Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 16:

In page 14, to delete line 20 and substitute the following:
"(2) The Regulator may not amend a licence regarding—(a) the duration of its period of operation except in accordance with any terms or conditions set out in the licence,
(b) provisions governing the payment for good causes included in the licence,
(c) provisions governing the rate of commission payable to retailers included in the licence, or
(d) any list of prohibited games included in the licence.".

Section 27 provides that in general the regulator may amend the terms and conditions of the licence. Subsection 27(3) provides that the regulator may amend the terms and conditions of the licence only with the written consent of the licence holder where the licence provides that the term in question may only be altered with the consent of the licence holder.

Subsection (2) currently provides that the regulator may not amend the licence regarding its period of operation. I am proposing an expanded subsection (2) which would provide that a number of additional terms of the licence may not be amended, namely, those terms which concern the payment for good causes, the rates of commission payable to retailers as well as any list of prohibited games included in the licence. This amendment will give clarity and certainty to the various stakeholders in relation to key provisions of the licence.

Members focused in on a few issues on Committee Stage. For the avoidance of doubt, once the licence is agreed in the terms I have laid out, for example, the provision to pay providers of the service - franchisees - their rate, that cannot be amended subsequently. That will give clarity and certainty to people in regard to the licence and its operation for the duration of the 20 years.