Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy will be aware that my colleague, the Minister for Finance, has stated that it is his 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. However, officials from the Department of Finance, 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.

In addition, the Department of Finance 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. As part of that review the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform has received submissions from and met with the stakeholders. I have also discussed these matters with representatives of the organisations concerned in the context of the future funding of the horse and greyhound industries.