Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 3:

In page 8, line 25, to delete “than €10” and substitute “than €2”.

The amendments seek to amend section 5 which inserts a new section 14 to replace section 14 in the 1956 Act. If we look at the 1956 Act, we will see that section 14 is in Part 3 which deals with the licensing of amusement halls and funfairs. We have all become aware of how unusual the legislation in this area is because local authorities can opt in to this Part of the 1956 Act - some have done so, while some have not - which means that different systems are operating throughout the country for amusement halls and funfairs, which is unusual from the point of view of legislation. The amendments arise from a concern that people are spending too much money in gambling. Section 14(b) of the 1956 Act states: "the stake in each game is not to be more than sixpence for each player...". That is still the law. At paragraph (d) it states: "no player may win more than the value of ten shillings...". That may have been amended subsequently, but it is still extremely low. The Minister has decided to insert a figure of €10 for the stake and €750 for the prize. I understand the logic behind this. The purpose of my amendment is to try to prevent people from spending too much money in gambling. However, since I tabled the amendment, I have been contacted by people who own arcades to say this would be very unfair on them because there is no restriction on those who gamble online in the bet they can place. They are asking why they will be being restricted under the new regime in the amount a person will be able to gamble on a machine. It is a further example of how complicated the issue is.

I will not push the amendments on Committee Stage. I will consider them further on Report Stage and the Minister should do the same. I am interested in hearing what the Minister of State has to say to them in response, but clearly we need to update the legislation to ensure it will be meaningful. If we are to provide in the Bill for meaningful stakes and prizes, they will have to be policed. I am interested in hearing the Minister's response on how he believes that will happen.