Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I will be brief. In effect, the Minister is asking me not to press the amendment, so I have to ask what exactly he is committing to. We have asked for a report on the economic impact assessment of this measure. The context is clear. The trend is accelerating. The move to online gambling is very evident for all of us to see, and the concern is that we will quickly see closures, people will be put on protective notice, and there will be redundancies. We are all aware of the level of costs that the retail bookmakers, with a physical store, have to carry, so they are at a significant disadvantage. An alternative proposal has been put forward by them. I fully accept that has to be examined and probed rigorously by the Department and Revenue.

The Minister makes the point that the first returns under the betting duty are in April 2019. I acknowledge that, but my overarching concern is that it will be too late and we need to know if this alternative proposal that has been made stands up. We need to know if it will deliver a yield equal to or greater than the yield the Minister has projected from the increase in betting duty, which the industry would strongly assert will not be delivered because of the impact on jobs and so forth.

I hope the Ceann Comhairle will allow the Minister in briefly - I am sure we will make progress very quickly after this - because I need to ask what exactly the Minister is committing to. Is he committing to a report? When can we see that report?

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