Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 406: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the plans he has to prohibit or regulate the advertising of too good to be true prize-winning schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23482/04]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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In so far as some prize-winning schemes are conducted in lottery form, for example, scratch cards, the provisions of the Gaming and Lotteries Acts 1956 to 1986 apply. Under the 1956 Act, all lotteries are unlawful except those which are specifically permitted. Furthermore, under section 22 of the Act, publication of any notice or announcement concerning a lottery, other than announcement of the results of a lawfully conducted lottery, is prohibited. The investigation of specific complaints in relation to breaches of the law is a matter for the Garda Síochána in the first instance.

Some prize-winning schemes use premium rate services to generate revenue. In those cases, the prior authorisation of Regtel, Regulator of Premium Rate Telecommunications Services Limited, must be obtained in advance and its code of practice must be complied with.

The recommendations of the report of the interdepartmental review group on the review of the Gaming and Lotteries Acts 1956-86, published in June 2000, including those with regard to the conduct of various categories of lottery, are being examined in my Department in light of the proposed legislation to amend and update the Gaming and Lotteries Acts.