Pat Buckley (Cork East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

It is hard to follow Deputy Doherty but having listened to him, I agree that this provision is mind boggling. I could name a couple of hundred local clubs that run lotteries, whether for rugby or soccer, as well as community groups. We even raise funds for the St. Patrick's Day parade. For me, the Government is shutting down the heartbeat of any community. Sport, in particular, is vital for the mental health and well-being of people in the community. It feels like the Government is threatening the only possibility some people have of maintaining their sporting organisations and giving back to their communities. Clubs in my own town and all over my constituency, including Cobh Ramblers, Cobh Wanderers, Midleton RFC and the soccer clubs in Youghal, have weekly fundraisers and a lot of them are what would be called lotteries. I cannot stand over this legislation. I cannot go back to them and say "Sorry, there was a blip, we missed something" and tell them that they will have to find alternative ways to raise funds to make up for the shortfall in funding.

I understand that the Bill is important in the context of gambling addiction but I agree with Deputy Doherty that the legislation should be recommitted and done properly. We should try not to pit one against the other and we should certainly not leave any loopholes for those who can afford it and will get away with it. It is the small little soccer, rugby or rowing clubs in our communities that will be struggling to keep going. I ask the Minister of State to rethink it.

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