James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Regarding premises, we are satisfied that it will allow for selling tickets around the pitch. In fairness, Deputy Doherty captured that problem in the original Bill. Deputy McGrath has called me obstinate and said that I have not accepted anything raised by other Deputies, but when Deputy Doherty spotted that we made the necessary change to address it.

Regarding multiple licences, the authority has discretion to set the form and manner of the application and the licensee can apply to vary a licence if absolutely necessary. Ultimately it is one licence per type of activity, but it can operate multiples of the same activity under the same licence, for example, multiple licences. I give the example of bingo. It is intended that the authority would issue one licence per operator for each type of gambling activity, in this case bingo. The licence will set out the activities that can be provided pursuant to that licence for bingo. Each individual game of bingo will be subject to the maximum limit which is currently €5,000 per game.

Furthermore, the Bill was amended on Committee Stage in Seanad Éireann so that the relevant activities specified by the authority may also be provided from one or more premises within the State. The amendment also provides that a licensee may apply to the authority to add additional premises to a licence for activities. These amendments reinforce the policy that a single licence, but for multiple activities and premises, should be issued by the authority. Basically it is a lottery licence but the organisation can run multiple lotteries if that is what the authority permits it to do under that one licence.

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