Results 6,181-6,200 of 9,252 for speaker:Jim O'Callaghan

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Gaming and Lotteries (Amendment) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (10 Jul 2019)

Jim O'Callaghan: It is interesting to note that under the 1956 Act slot machines were prohibited and that was then changed in 1970. We are referring to slot machines and gaming machines. Section 149(2) states the Minister may, by regulation, vary the amount specified. I am not an expert in identifying what is the appropriate amount that will be effective in trying to tackle compulsive gambling. However,...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Gaming and Lotteries (Amendment) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (10 Jul 2019)

Jim O'Callaghan: Yes. I might reintroduce it on Report Stage.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Gaming and Lotteries (Amendment) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (10 Jul 2019)

Jim O'Callaghan: My amendment is similar, if not identical, to that of Deputy Ó Laoghaire, except for amendment No. 8. As Deputy Ó Laoghaire said, there are organisations which run bingo games for charities. For example, if a GAA club wishes to organise a bingo night event, it will need a certain amount of equipment and technology to run it. The concern is that under the legislation as proposed...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Gaming and Lotteries (Amendment) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (10 Jul 2019)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Minister of State seems to be making the point that if our amendments are allowed, it would mean an agent to whom the licence is transferred would not have to go though the vigorous process that is set out before the District Court. The manner in which we have drafted subsection (8) clearly implies there would be permission to transfer the licence from the applicant to the agent and the...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Gaming and Lotteries (Amendment) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (10 Jul 2019)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Minister of State said they do not need to transfer the licence. If they want to get people in to help them they can enter into an arrangement with those people-----

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Gaming and Lotteries (Amendment) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (10 Jul 2019)

Jim O'Callaghan: -----and pay them for running the licence but they do not need them to apply for the licence.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Gaming and Lotteries (Amendment) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (10 Jul 2019)

Jim O'Callaghan: Would that preclude an agent from applying? If the wording of the proposed new section 28(1) was changed to "A person or their agent may apply to the District Court for a licence", is the Minister of State saying that the charity must apply for the licence? Subsection (3) of that new section provides that regard must be had for the character of the applicant.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Gaming and Lotteries (Amendment) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (10 Jul 2019)

Jim O'Callaghan: Okay.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Gaming and Lotteries (Amendment) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (10 Jul 2019)

Jim O'Callaghan: In light of what the Minister of State has said, I will not press my amendment, although I may table an amendment on Report Stage giving entitlement to a person or their agent to make the application and then the District Court would be able to vet the agent.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Gaming and Lotteries (Amendment) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (10 Jul 2019)

Jim O'Callaghan: It has been affected by the withdrawal of amendment No. 6. I also withdraw amendment No. 8 as it does not make sense without amendment No. 6.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Gaming and Lotteries (Amendment) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (10 Jul 2019)

Jim O'Callaghan: I do not think that is an accurate characterisation of the amendment I put down but it is not necessary to have this debate since I am not moving the amendment.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Gaming and Lotteries (Amendment) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (10 Jul 2019)

Jim O'Callaghan: I withdraw my comments.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Gaming and Lotteries (Amendment) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (10 Jul 2019)

Jim O'Callaghan: Last year, I introduced the National Lottery (Protection of Central Fund) Bill, the purpose of which was to try to protect the central fund, in particular from offshore online speculators running bets on the outcome of the national lottery. They are perfectly entitled to do so but it is of public concern because when people buy a lottery ticket part of the money goes to the Central Fund,...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Gaming and Lotteries (Amendment) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (10 Jul 2019)

Jim O'Callaghan: I do not think it is the effect of my amendment because I made a change and redefined the outcome of a lottery game as being the complete amount of numbers drawn in respect of which the top prize is awarded. That person would have to be betting on the six numbers to be prevented.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Gaming and Lotteries (Amendment) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (10 Jul 2019)

Jim O'Callaghan: Although the company is private, we have tabled the amendment because there is a central fund established in legislation. The national lottery is established under legislation so it is different from a private enterprise. There are moneys for the benefit of the public. As a result of what Deputy Sherlock stated about people betting on a couple of numbers, I am conscious that the amendment,...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Gaming and Lotteries (Amendment) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (10 Jul 2019)

Jim O'Callaghan: I move amendment No. 10: In page 20, between lines 13 and 14, to insert the following: “(2) Section 7 of the Betting Act 1931 is amended in subsection 7 by the insertion of the following section after section 7E: “Condition attaching to licences issued under the Act of 1931 7F.(1) This section applies to any bookmaker’s licence, remote bookmaker’s licence...

Report on the Wards of Court: Motion (4 Jul 2019)

Jim O'Callaghan: Many people contact the Joint Committee on Justice and Equality asking the committee to conduct investigations into legitimate grievances they have, either as individuals or as organisations. Unfortunately, the committee does not have the capacity to conduct investigations into everything. By necessity, we must be selective about the issues in respect of which we decide to have public...

Judicial Council Bill 2017 [Seanad]: Committee and Remaining Stages (4 Jul 2019)

Jim O'Callaghan: I see the purpose of the amendments now. Subsection (7) is to be deleted as it is unnecessary, because it is provided for in subsection (6). We are going to amend subsection (6) by including a reference to section 79(2)(b), so I see the logic of it in light of what the Minister has said. I will support the amendments.

Judicial Council Bill 2017 [Seanad]: Committee and Remaining Stages (4 Jul 2019)

Jim O'Callaghan: I welcome the passing of this Bill through the Dáil today. As the Minister said, this has been 20 years in gestation. It is a sign of the efficiency of this Chamber that we managed to pass it in only one hour and 55 minutes. This legislation will benefit both the public and the Judiciary, and it is a sign that we, as an Oireachtas, are prepared to recognise the need to invest more...

Judicial Council Bill 2017 [Seanad]: Committee and Remaining Stages (4 Jul 2019)

Jim O'Callaghan: I wish to clarify this point. My understanding of section 87(7) is that it provides that the name of the judge concerned and the reprimand would be included in a report under the section unless the committee "considers that in order to safeguard the administration of justice that information should not be included in the report". We are removing that provision. Will the Minister clarify...