Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome this opportunity to speak to the Bill. The legislation is framed to ensure fair and equal treatment of all bookmakers and betting exchanges offering services in this State. It will bring into the licensing and taxation regime all remote bookmakers and betting exchanges. This new licensing system for remote operators will serve the important public interest of preventing crime and protecting consumers against fraud and ensure all businesses offering betting services from Ireland or to persons in Ireland are regulated appropriately. The Bill amends, for that purpose, the Betting Act of 1931, which contains the existing provisions governing licensing of conventional bookmakers. Once enacted, any bookmaker offering bets to punters within the State must be licensed to do so and must have paid the appropriate licence fee, with all bets taken being subject to betting duty.

The horse racing and breeding sector contributes approximately €1 billion annually to the economy, employing in excess of 16,000 people and is responsible for exports worth €174 million. There is a network of 26 racecourses located in 19 different counties which are capable of hosting national hunt and flat race meetings. Our racecourses offer a year-round programme of racing events giving major financial boosts to local economies. As stated by Deputy Walsh, horse racing provides a significant boost to the economies of places like Galway, Punchestown, Leopardstown, The Curragh and smaller areas such as Bellewstown and Ballinrobe and provides employment for many people.

The Irish horse breeding sector is an important success story within the national economy. Irish breeders are responsible for 42% of all thoroughbred foals in Europe. In 2008, we exported a total of 6,222 thoroughbred horses, worth a combined total of €126.8 million, to 42 different countries. It is safe to say that Ireland is a world leader in horse racing with national hunt jockeys like Tony McCoy, who recorded a landmark 4,000 winners last year on a horse called Mountain Tunes for his boss J.P. McManus and trainer, Jonjo O'Neill. Tony McCoy is an iconic figure in racing, having won the Gold Cup on Synchronised and the Grand National on Don't Push It. He is a role model for all jockeys and people in the industry. We also have the hugely talented Ruby Walsh and the emerging talent Bryan Cooper, who recently signed for Gigginstown stud. I wish him all the best. We have excellent trainers such as Willie Mullins, Gordon Elliott, Noel Meade and Charlie Swan. On the flat scene, Ireland has world dominating trainers like Aidan O'Brien, Jim Bolger and Dermot Weld, with jockeys such as Joseph O'Brien, Johnny Murtagh, Kieran Fallon and Richard Hughes, who is currently a champion jockey in England.

The Irish greyhound racing industry supports 10,000 full and part-time jobs and injects €500 million into the economy each year. As with the Irish horse, the Irish greyhound is regarded as a world leader. It is important that both industries are properly funded and supported to sustain and grow jobs. Bringing betting exchanges into the taxation system makes sense, particularly in the context of the changed betting environment with smartphones and tablets. It is important revenue collected under this legislation is ring-fenced for the support of horse racing and greyhound industries, which will as a result become self-sustaining, thus protecting jobs in the sector and giving a much need boost to the economies of many areas.

The Bill provides for the extension of the opening hours of registered bookmakers' from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. all year round, with the exception of Good Friday and Christmas day. This is a welcome provision, which has been called for by the industry for a long time and brings us into line with other jurisdictions such as the UK.

I welcome this Bill and look forward to its passage through the Houses of the Oireachtas. I commend the Bill.

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