Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

We had a long debate in the Lower House on this matter. I understand the very legitimate case put as to why we should establish any body unless there is a compelling need for it. We thought long and hard about it. Under this legislation we are asking people to make a bid for a robust contribution to the State. They will want to ensure that the licence will operate in accordance with the law, and the general trend now is for that not to be done by the State but by an independent person. I do not expect this to be a very elaborate body. It will be a small, self-funding unit. It will be funded by the lottery profits. I hope it will be a modest outfit. We will set out in the licence terms the scope and work of the new regulator. Other than ensuring full compliance with the terms of both the law and the licence agreement, it will also ultimately do the ground work for the next lottery licence because, under the law, that will not be a matter for a Government Department but for the regulator.

I do not wish to trespass on the remit of another Minister but Members will be aware that general legislation on gambling is being examined. Many Members expressed a concern in this regard on Second Stage. I am aware from reading international papers on this area of gambling that lottery operators do not even like to regard this as gambling. The lotto is somehow like a national punt that people take on the grand national. However, it is very regulated. There is a great deal of other gambling that is not regulated at present, including online gambling, online casinos and so forth. The Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Shatter, is advancing detailed legislation in that regard. I have posited the view, although it might not come to pass, that we might have a single regulator for gambling and that the lottery regulator might migrate into that wider role, but that is a matter to be considered by the Minister, Deputy Shatter, and would be subject to legislation being brought forward for consideration by the Houses in due course.

However, even as a standalone entity, I am convinced from my consideration of international best practice that there is a case for a discrete, singular function, lottery regulator. It will not be extensive. I understand the very reasonable point that we should not set up another quango. This is a small, discrete, single function body which will be funded by the lottery, not the State.