Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for coming to the House and for his comprehensive report on this issue. We all acknowledge the importance of the horse racing and greyhound industry to this country. As stated by the Minister, there are 24,000 people employed in the industry, which in economic terms generates €1.6 billion. This is very significant. I agree with Senator Ó Domhnaill and others that the Betting (Amendment) Bill is long overdue. I understand the UK Government proposes to introduce a tax on online betting in its next budget. Perhaps this is the reason for the delay in the introduction of the Betting (Amendment) Bill here. However, I am not sure this is the case.

On whether a proposed tax on online betting should be set at 1% or 2%, I, too, would favour a 2% tax. The vast majority of gambling now takes place online, as a result of which independent bookmakers are suffering. There is currently no licensing requirement in respect of online betting. This issue must be addressed in the Betting (Amendment) Bill. In my view moneys accruing from a 2% tax on online betting should be earmarked for the horse and greyhound industry. However, if, say, €90 million is the amount yielded from this tax I believe it should be divided between the horse and greyhound industry and other sports. As pointed out, the vast majority of betting is taking place online in people's homes. People are betting on everything from a needle to a haystack.

I agree with the comments made in regard to the need for greater transparency in the greyhound industry. I would like to again raise an issue I have raised previously in the House. I am no killjoy where betting is concerned. I enjoy a bet myself. However, there is an anomaly in this area in that a person wishing to purchase a national lottery ticket or place a bet in a bookmakers or with a bookmaker on course must be over 18 years yet children in communion dresses and younger are placing bets on tote. I have drawn the attention of the Minister to this anomaly in the law. I hope we will soon see action on it. As I said earlier, I am no killjoy. I bet on the tote myself when a child. However, I believe there are many problems arising from the accessibility of gambling to children under 18 years of age. I have been visited at my clinic by many people who because of this became addicted to gambling. I am not suggesting that everybody who as a child bets on the tote becomes a gambling addict. That is not the case. However, a particular amount of them do. I hope this matter will soon be addressed. We cannot have anomalies like this in the system. What is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander.