Eugene Murphy (Roscommon-Galway, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Deputy Quinlivan has certainly given us a great opportunity to discuss this issue. Listening to Members on all sides of the House this evening, there is general consensus that everybody would like to solve this issue. The big question is how to do so. Looking back, I can think of a plethora of names - the Minister, Deputy Naughten, former Deputy Shatter, Deputies Donnelly, Rock and others - who have all brought forward proposals on this matter. They were good proposals; I have looked up some of them. It is an extremely complex issue. This evening's Bill is a good one. However, we should allow time for the process that is currently under way between the Departments of Transport, Tourism and Sport, and Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation. At some stage, we should bring all the interested groups around the table to discuss the matter.

On the issue of charities, many of us attend charity events. I acknowledge that Deputy Quinlivan proposes to exempt charities. One of the ways in which they raise money is by auctioning tickets for major events such as all-Ireland finals, soccer matches, or music concerts. I do many of these charity auctions myself, and sometimes they get €400 or €500 for a ticket. We want to make sure that this area was not affected. It may be covered in the Bill already. With the charity exemption, though, might we find a plethora of organisations looking for charitable status? That is another issue. I am just raising these questions so that all the issues will be addressed. We do not want a legal situation to arise whereby somebody can challenge part of the legislation.

I thank the Deputy for bringing the Bill forward. It is clear that there is a common consensus that we want this issue addressed. By working together and allowing a short period for discussion on the matter, we could bring it forward.

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