Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Question 140: To ask the Minister for Finance if he has reviewed the pre-budget 2010 submission sent to him on 6 October 2009 by an association (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40847/09]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Question 141: To ask the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the potential employment and Exchequer return that could be realised by reforming the opening hours of licensed betting offices; if such reform is under consideration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40848/09]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Question 142: To ask the Minister for Finance if, in view of the continuing decline in betting duty as confirmed in the recently published official figures (details supplied), he has assessed the impact of remote, telephone and internet gambling on the operation of licensed betting offices; his views on the potential considerable loss of employment nationally arising from this impact; the action he will take, such as reform in the opening hours of licensed betting offices, which could lessen the impact of remote, telephone and internet gambling on locally operated licensed betting offices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40849/09]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 140 to 142, inclusive, together.

As part of the Budget process all submissions are reviewed. I have stated previously that it is my intention to widen, if possible, the tax base on which betting duty would be applied. Bets placed either on-line or over the phone are generally with out-of-State companies so applying betting duty is therefore problematic. My officials, in conjunction with the Office of the Attorney General, the Office of the Revenue Commissioners and the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, are looking at the scope to overcome legal and operational difficulties in this area and will continue to do so, on an ongoing basis.

In addition, my Department is working closely with the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform which has initiated a review in order to provide the Government with options for a new and comprehensive legal and organisational framework governing gambling architecture in the State. The review, amongst other things, will consider:

· the recommendations contained in the Report Regulating Gaming in Ireland,

· the existing law regulating gaming lotteries and other forms of gambling in the jurisdiction,

· international developments, in particular the experience of the UK's Gambling Commission,

· developments in relation to remote gambling (e.g. via the internet and mobile phones).

As the Deputy may be aware, due to pressure on the betting sector, I decided to defer the introduction of the increase in the betting duty provided for in Finance (No. 2) Act 2008 pending a review. Accordingly, the Finance Act 2009 contains a provision for continuing the existing betting duty rate of 1% unless and until an order is made bringing the 2% rate into effect, or alternative betting taxation arrangements are enacted. This decision is based on the premise that the betting sector will engage in constructive discussions about putting in place a fair and workable tax base for the sector. Such discussions will, inter alia, touch on issues such as on-line/phone betting, which is largely untaxed, and look at proposals that could potentially bring this area into the tax net, if possible, while also protecting Irish employment in the sector.