Gerard Craughwell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State and the officials from the Department, with whom I have engaged on the issue in recent days. I did not put the amendment down to be in any obstructive or difficult. I am deeply concerned. I have been reassured by the officials and by the Minister of State's reassurance today. The Minister of State's particular interest in the area has given me great hope for the future. In bringing this forward today, we are firing a warning shot to those who believe they can operate above the law in a quasi fraudulent way, which seems to be legal given that it is done through a betting shop. I hope those who are running these large gambling institutions that operate online, and which I will not name here today - everybody knows them, as they advertise morning, noon and night - realise we are watching them.I hope they realise that the Minister of State will take a particular interest in them. I thank him and his officials for the extremely courteous way in which this matter has been dealt with today. Based on what he has said, I am happy to withdraw this amendment and have it dealt with through the other legislation he has set out. His comments are much appreciated.