Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Deputy Michael Collins and I tabled a Topical Issue on the same matter but it fell on deaf ears, which is very sad.

The Tánaiste is the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation and it is appropriate that I put this question to him. The members of the Irish Bookmakers Association have been denied access to the Covid restrictions support scheme, CRSS, which is very unfair as they make their returns to Revenue, pay tax and PRSI and employ a lot of people. Revenue classifies them as casual traders because of the nature of their work and the fact that they move their pitches around to different race meetings. It is totally unfair that legitimate business people are denied access to this scheme. A new business that started up perhaps three or four months ago can get access to the grant. I spoke to a bookmaker who has been in business for 15 years, who goes to 17 tracks and pays his taxes, but he is denied access to the CRSS because Revenue describes him as a casual trader. That is something the Government should examine because it is unfair that this cohort of business people who work hard and pay their taxes are met with a blanket denial.

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