Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Section 8 replaces section 5 of the principal Act. This section sets out the application process for a certificate of personal fitness to hold a bookmaker's license for a person resident outside the State to the Minister for Justice and Equality. A person seeking a certificate of personal fitness must provide notice in two daily newspapers circulated in the State of his intention to make such an application, between two weeks and one month in advance of making the application. A period of not later than 56 days is provided within which the certificate is granted or refused. The section also provides a basis for refusing a certificate and for penalties for making or providing false or misleading statements or information in the course of an application for a certificate.

On the Senator's question regarding whether there is an opportunity for third party objections or where objections should be lodged, I would point out there is a 56 day period of time. I will find out for the Senator whether the objection should be made to an independent person or whether it should go directly to the Minister or whether the objection should be made at a more local level. However, there is an adequate period of time before the certificate is granted or refused for an objection to be lodged. Also, the application is in the public domain for a period of two weeks through the newspapers. These time periods together should ensure that if there are third party objections they are facilitated. I will check out how contact is to be made with the appropriate person to lodge an objection.

In the context of the gambling control Bill, the purpose of that Bill is to provide for a regulator. Perhaps we should have a similar point of contact in regard to this Bill and that bears consideration.