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Ring describes himself as an avid supporter of the Irish football team. INPHO/Cathal Noonan

Ring calls on airlines not to 'rip off' fans travelling to Euro 2012

The minister has said he expects an increase in prices ahead of the tournament, but has urged companies not to charge supporters excessive amounts.

JUNIOR MINISTER FOR Transport, Tourism and Sport, Michael Ring, has called on airlines not to โ€˜rip offโ€™ Irish football fans who are planning on travelling to watch the team play in the European Championships next summer.

Speaking on Today FMโ€™s The Last Word yesterday evening, the minister said:
โ€œI do expect prices to go up, but I donโ€™t want them to rip off people that are in difficult times in this country at the moment.

โ€œThey love their football, they love their sport, and theyโ€™re going to be looking at every way to get out to the Championships next summer, and what Iโ€™m saying to the airlines is: be fair, in these difficult times.โ€

When host Matt Cooper suggested that airlines were entitled to price the tickets according to what theyโ€™ll sell at, Ring responded:

โ€œI do expect an increase in prices, but there is a difference if something is โ‚ฌ50 now and โ‚ฌ100 when an event happens, thatโ€™s a rip off, because thatโ€™s increasing them by 100%.โ€

The minister added that he โ€œdidnโ€™t know yetโ€ if he would be travelling to the tournament next summer, but recalled how he attended the Irish sideโ€™s matches in Euro 88, describing it as โ€œthe best trip of my lifeโ€.

However, he added that he did not back TD Mick Wallaceโ€™s suggestion that the Dรกil should take a ten-day break to coincide with next summerโ€™s tournament.

Listen to the full interview here>

Read: โ€˜Spurs can win the Premier Leagueโ€™ โ€“ Redknapp>

Read: Another Stokes double as Celtic close the gap>

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