Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

My question was along similar lines. I want to tease out something Mr. Grace said. Lots of people use gift vouchers within a short space of time but if they have a gift voucher for a photographer, for example, they might wait until the next year to use it because they might have a holy communion or confirmation in their family. In that case, the gift voucher might be lying in a drawer for a year and a half but for the most part gift vouchers are spent quickly. I have found that if people have a gift voucher for €100 and spent €85 of it, the €15 might never be used. I think one would find that across the board. We all accept that 65% of gift vouchers that are purchased are not regulated. There must be regulation. I understand how some people might think five years is a step too far for some businesses. I do not have a problem with it. I agree with what Senator Humphreys said about whether it was a hotel stay, a hot air balloon or a weekend away. I bought a charity voucher last year for a weekend away and it did not specify; it was for bed and breakfast for two nights with an evening meal bit it did not specify that. I am sure if people had to specify they would be able to do so quite easily.

Can we go back to the money message issue with Deputy Collins's Bill? If the Bill was to proceed and was technically sound and became law, I do not see where a huge cost to the State would arise from the Bill. Would it be from an enforcement point of view? Is that where the cost would come in? That is where I do not really understand the money message in this case. The retailer who is selling the voucher would have to provide the voucher and details. How would that revert back to the State?