Ms Sharon Byrne:

A point I would have liked to make earlier is that we introduced the safer gambling code last September and it went live on 1 January this year. Part of it is a ban on credit card betting for online and retail. I note the scheme of the Bill proposes a ban on all credit and does not mention credit cards specifically. We have asked members to recommend that credit cards be included.

On the previous question concerning jockeys giving information, the Deputy might be interested to know the Irish Bookmakers Association has a memorandum of understanding, MOU, with the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board, IHRB, and the GAA. Some of the larger companies have MOUs between the exchanges and the British racing board. Any irregular betting patterns or unusual information that might affect a market, a price or a runner is fed back. We have a good relationship with the regulatory bodies and share any information that comes to light. What the Bill proposes in this area will be welcome and the regulator will have an important role to play.