Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)

I will conclude on this point. These operators will simply put on their websites that they have been fully recognised by the Irish State as an operator in this country for a licence fee of €5,000. We are underselling ourselves. An amendment I proposed, which astonishingly is regarded as a charge on our poor people, given the fact that it is a charge on companies outside this jurisdiction, would simply create a fair licence fee for these operators to operate in this country. I would be interested to hear the Minister's views on this. This could be a provision for inclusion in a new finance Bill. It seems strange that, for €5,000, we will be allowing these companies to publish on their websites that they have been recognised by the Irish State as operators here. We are underselling ourselves. The charge should be €50,000 or €100,000 at a minimum; that would be fair. I am interested in hearing the Minister's views.

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