Ticket touts face substantial fines and possible imprisonment if a new Private Members Bill, the contents of which were outlined at Croke Park yesterday, is passed into law.

The contents of the document, formulated by Fine Gael TDs Alan Shatter and Denis Naughten, were explained at the launch in conjunction with the party's youth wing, who are planning a summer petition campaign against touting.

"This Bill is not unique but is designed to work in practice. In Britain, similar legislation was drafted in successfully and touts at the forthcoming World Cup face deportation until the event is over," Naughten said, before charging the present government with refusing to address the issue.

"Their blind eye approach is allowing this parasitical practice to escalate to the extent where people are resigned to paying over the odds for entry into major events", he continued.

Pointing out that the All-Ireland football and hurling series was particularly prone to touting scams, along with major concert events, Naughten emphasised that stronger legislation and direct Garda intervention was a necessity.

The Bill allows for a £1,000 fine if convicted and/or a six-month jail term or less. It also empowers the gardai to make immediate arrests should they suspect an individual of touting. It does not impose any restrictions on the resale of tickets at face value.

Meanwhile, Fine Gael's youth branch are organising a Touts Out campaign in order to bolster support for the Bill over the summer. They intend collecting 40,000 signatures to present to the government after the Dail recess.