David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The amendments are familiar to me as I have had representations on them. I could agree with amendment Deputy O'Callaghan's amendment up to a point but the Bill also pitches an allowable expenses at a maximum of 25% reduced from 40% of total proceeds in the 1956 Act. Critically the Bill also provides for the first time the amount of the total proceeds that must be allocated to prizes, a maximum of 50%, and to the charitable or philanthropic cause a maximum of 25%.

Deputy Ó Laoghaire's amendment No. 7 has the effect of restoring the 40% expenses provision for agents. No guaranteed amount for the good cause of lottery was licenced for or intended to benefit is provided for either of the Deputies proposed amendments. What we are proposing is more positive in that regard.

In all stages of the debates on the Bill so far, no one has opposed the modernisation of the lottery licence application and issue process but it is useful to discuss it. The grant by the court of a lottery licence is a significant matter. The Deputies' amendments would effectively hand over lottery licences to agents who would not have to go through the licence application of the court.

The proposition in the Deputies respective second amendments would only guarantee an agent a fixed proportion of the total lottery proceeds while not giving any mandated return to the charitable or philanthropic organisation cause involved or to the prize fund. The impact would be that we would focus on the takings of an agent when we should focus on the good cause that needs the funds. That is why the amendments are not balanced. The Bill, for the first time, guarantees a maximum of 50% to prizes and 25% must be given to the charity.