Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

The amendment seeks to close off a possible loophole in the Bill as it applies to pyramid schemes. The original wording, "any service or facility provided in the course of a trade, business or profession", might have proved problematic in the context of schemes. As pyramid schemes are unlawful, there can be no legitimate trade, business or professional pyramid scheme promoter or operator. Most of those involved in recent schemes appear to have been involved in a capacity incidental to their normal trade, business or profession.

I am mindful of the difficulties the restrictive definition of pyramid selling in the Pyramid Selling Act 1980 has caused for the enforcement of the Act and I am anxious to forestall any similar problems with the pyramid selling provisions of the present Bill. It is a technical amendment to cover any potential loophole.