Michael Lowry (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am very concerned. We have to protect charities, voluntary organisations and sporting organisations. Numerous charities and such bodies have contacted me expressing their reluctance and concern about this aspect of the Bill. In general, I believe that everybody supports the principle behind the Bill. If we have reduced services because the sponsors of those services are unable to fundraise to support them, however, it will create a problem.

Several charities have told me that they are opposed to this, that they do not like it and that it is going to have massive repercussions for their organisations, but they do not want to say it publicly in case it would be misinterpreted as them being supportive of gambling. The Minister of State has to look at this. There has to be a balance and a reasonable solution has to be found. Either amendment No.9 or Deputy Murphy's amendment - one or the other - should be acceptable to the Government.

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