Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I am not going to die in the ditch over them but I do not understand the reason they were not accepted. In my view these amendments make the section more transparent and will assist the Minister.

It is quite interesting that this is the first time I have seen in a Bill the provision that requires the applicant for a licence to provide an e-mail address. If one wants to be a bookmaker and one does not have an e-mail address, one is snookered.

Obviously the Internet is the way we communicate and the way many people get their information. While the Bills refers to placing notices in two national daily newspapers, today's national daily newspaper in my house is lighting the fire the following morning. The Internet is where one sources information. If the day passes, the daily newspaper is gone. I suggest that my amendment should have been accepted, even in the spirit of the legislation. I do not think it would have made a significant different to the Minister.

I understand that the gambling control Bill will be introduced shortly. It is a pity that we are not dealing with both Bills concurrently.

This Bill is peppered with requirements to publish different types of applications and certificates in two daily newspapers. The decision to confine it to daily newspapers limits the options available to people. A person who is looking for a bookmaker's licence in my own parish of Gaoth Dobhair, for example, will have to publish an application in The Irish Timesand the Irish Independent. I expect that those who might raise issues about that person's fitness would be more likely to look at the local newspapers. I suggest that the relevant section of the Bill, which I am not seeking to amend at this time, should be re-examined. I am not seeking to diminish the requirement to place notices in national newspapers. Given that people in most places outside Dublin look at local newspapers like The Kerryman, The Corkman, the Donegal Democratand the Donegal News, I am suggesting that there should be a requirement for notices to be published in local newspapers too, where appropriate.