Mark Daly (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We are on Committee Stage and we are not likely to get beyond that today. If this amendment is passed, it will put the Government on notice that it will have three months from the date on which this Bill is enacted, which is months away yet. We are setting a tight timeline. Much of the work, including the consultation with stakeholders, has started. The issue here is the setting of a tight timeline. We could provide for a six-month timeline and change it on Report Stage. The Government has six months, in effect, because it will be at least three months before this Bill is signed by the President and enacted. This provision will come into effect three months from that date. The timeline could extend to 12 months depending on what the Minister of State would like to do. He might say in his reply that this is about changing the 1956 Act. When the national lottery was being established more than 30 years ago, it was suggested that there might be a regulator. There is still no regulator. We should wait for more discussion on a regulator. The report that will be drawn up if this proactive amendment to the Bill is accepted will outline the problems with betting and lottery activity. We all know that such problems exist. We need to make sure we put in place a report that will be enacted. Actions will have to be put in place by the Government on foot of the report. I am seeking to include in legislation a requirement for the Government to put a report together, rather than promising that a report will be put together.