David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Group 2 comprises amendments Nos. 2, 6, 7, 10 and 11. Amendment No. 2 states:

In page 7, lines 35 to 37 deleted and the following substituted: "(e) the conditions referred to in paragraphs (a) and (b) and the name of the intended beneficiary shall be prominently displayed at the normal means of access to the premises proposed to be used;".

Amendment No. 6 is somewhat similar. The amendments to sections 12 and 14 are also somewhat similar. Amendment No. 10, pertaining to section 14, states:

In page 15, line 19, "Every" deleted and the following substituted: "(1) Subject to subsection (2), every".

This is a technical amendment. Amendment No. 11, which is also technical in nature, states:

In page 15, line 30, "issued."." deleted and the following substituted: "issued.

(2) Where the lottery is conducted in a premises, the information referred to in subsection (1) shall be prominently displayed at the normal means of access to the premises proposed to be used.".".

Amendment No. 2 relates to the display of information in respect of gaming under a permit from a Garda superintendent, where the maximum stake is €10 and the maximum prize is €3,000 for the game. However, I am taking the opportunity in amendment No. 2 toreplace the existingsection 4(11)(e). This paragraph required that the holder of the gaming permit could retain not more than 5% of the total proceeds of ticket sales, for expenses. On further consideration of this point, and in the context of the type of gaming involved, if promoted for commercial rather than charitable purposes, I am now of the view that it does not serve a useful purpose. Thus, I propose the deletion of this provision concerning a gaming permit. My amendment proposes to substitute a different section 4(11)(e). This requires the information as to the stakes and prizes and the name of the intended beneficiary to be displayed prominently at the normal means of access to the premises proposed to be used for gaming. This change is intended to facilitate the operators of types of gaming where tickets are not used and, thus, such information could not be printed on them.

Amendments Nos. 6 and 7 are bothtechnical amendments with regard to the public display of information. There is a requirement both in new sections 27B(10)(a), dealing with lottery permits, and 28(10)(b), dealing with lottery licences - inserted into the principal Act by sections 11 and 12 of the Bill - to display the value of each prize and the name of the intended beneficiary on every lottery ticket or coupon. However, it has been brought to my attention that such display may not technically be feasible where the lottery is conducted, for example, by way of bingo. In this case, tickets may be bought in books or, increasingly, played using a mechanical or digital device to mark off the numbers. In this regard, bingo is different from other lotteries, which primarily involve the purchase of a ticket. Thus, amendment No. 6 for section 11 - lottery permits - and amendment No. 7 for section 12 - lottery licences - allow for the prominent public display of the required information at the normal means of access to the place of the event.

Amendment No. 10 concerns section 14 of the Bill, inserting a revised section 33 into the principal Act, concerning information to be displayed on lottery tickets. It is purely a textual amendment to introduce a reference to a new subsection (2) in amendment No. 11.

Amendment No. 11 provides a new subsection (2) in section 33 of the principal Act, allowing for the public display of the necessary information that might otherwise be contained on a ticket but which is difficult to do owing to the circumstances of the lottery.