Aodhán Ó Ríordáin (Dublin North Central, Labour)
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Question 36: To ask the Minister for Finance his views on proposals put forward by the Irish Bookmakers Association to extend the opening hours of betting shops during the winter months; the amount of extra tax revenue this would generate for the Exchequer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30327/11]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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The proposed Betting (Amendment) Bill, which is being drafted at present, will amend the 1931 Betting Act to inter alia establish the regulatory framework for the licensing of remote bookmakers and betting exchanges, including measures to enforce the regulatory framework. The extension of the opening hours of retail betting shops over the winter period is being considered in that context. An estimate of the potential tax revenue the extension of the opening hours would generate is not possible to predict as it would depend on a number of factors not least the number of betting shops that would avail of the new opening hours. I note that the representative body of bookmakers has estimated potential additional revenue of around €5 million which would include betting duty, PAYE, PRSI etc.