Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I agree with the Deputy. The Government published this last summer and my understanding is the Department of Finance has made some changes to it and essentially will republish a new Bill. This will be in this session and the Government greatly desires to have this legislation being brought forward at the same time as the horse racing legislation, which the Government also has prepared, because in some ways the two go in tandem. However, this is a new revenue stream for the Government on which there should be no further delays. It is about ensuring the Government gets a tax and a levy from online and remote betting. A great deal of betting is switching from bookies' shops to an online mode and the Government is losing and has lost a lot of revenue it wishes to get back. Consequently, this is legislation Members will see before the end of the session and I believe it will be concluded early next session.

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