Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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66. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality her views on the practice of online betting companies using software to track persons' online betting habits to target them for marketing purposes in view of the fact some betting companies claim the software is an anti-fraud measure; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33998/16]

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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67. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to appoint a dedicated gambling regulator; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33999/16]

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 66 and 67 together.

The Deputy will be aware that the General Scheme of the Gambling Control Bill was published in July 2013 following approval by the Government and is currently in drafting by the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel. The aim of the Bill is to update all existing laws on the regulation of gambling, including betting and gaming but excluding the National Lottery. It will provide for the licensing of all forms of on-line gambling.

The bill proposes to confer responsibility for all regulatory matters on the Minister for Justice and Equality. The Minister's functions as set out in the draft Scheme include licensing, inspections and prosecutions, and it is envisaged that these functions will be carried out by a body located within the Department of Justice and Equality. The General Scheme also provides for a dedicated inspectorate to ensure compliance by licence holders with the terms of their licences and with the new legislation generally.

The proposed legislation has consumer protection generally as one of its core principles, and it is envisaged that it will include several measures aimed at the protection of vulnerable persons, including children, from risks to their well-being arising from gambling. The Scheme includes measures that will require licence holders to act in a socially responsible way. These measures will include controls on advertising, promotions and sponsorship.

As regards progressing the proposed legislation, departmental officials are currently reviewing the Scheme published in 2013, taking account of intervening developments and technologies in the gaming sector. This review will help to update policy in this area. I am also considering whether some sections might be prioritised as they may require more immediate action rather than is possible with the longer, more detailed Bill. It is the intention that work on such early measures will continue in tandem with the wider review of the existing Scheme of a Bill to avoid any undue delay.

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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68. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of applications for certificates of personal fitness from remote operators and terrestrial bookmakers not ordinarily resident in the State made in the past five years in tabular form broken down by company name and year; the number of successful applicants and the number of those refused; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34005/16]

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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69. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of applications for certificates of personal fitness from remote operators and terrestrial bookmakers resident in the State made in the past seven years in tabular form broken down by company name and year; the number of successful applicants; the number of those refused; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34006/16]

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 68 and 69 together.

I wish to advise the Deputy that the information requested by her, as held by my Department, is set out in the following tables.

The Deputy will be aware that the Betting (Amendment) Act 2015 brought remote betting operators within the licensing regime for the first time. Accordingly, details on applications from such operators are only available from 2015 to date.

In accordance with the Betting Act 1931, the Minister for Justice and Equality is responsible for issuing certificates of personal fitness (CPFs) to officers representing remote operators, in addition to issuing CPFs to terrestrial bookmakers not ordinarily resident in the State. Licences granted on foot of CPFs being issued are of two years duration following the enactment of the Betting (Amendment) Act 2015.

CPFs are independently issued to terrestrial bookmakers resident in the State by individual Superintendents of An Garda Síochána. The Minister for Justice and Equality does not have any role in relation to the assessment of applications for CPFs from such bookmakers. Accordingly, my Department does not have records of applications made by these operators.

Applications from Remote Operators 2015-2016

Applications were received from 133 individuals representing 67 companies as set out in the following table. There were no unsuccessful applications made.

Applications for a certificate of personal fitness for out of state bookmakers for the year 2012 - 2016

Details of applications made from terrestrial bookmakers not resident in the State are set out in the following table. The Deputy should note that such applications are made in the individual's own name and that there are no companies involved in this process.