Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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230. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 277 of 2 March 2017, the requirement of the permit holder and the definition of qualifies as present in these circumstances particularly in view of the fact that such bookmakers have been reprimanded by Horse Racing Ireland for unauthorised persons operating pitches as indicated in correspondence by this Deputy with him when the permit holder was present. [41112/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) is a commercial state body established under the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act, 2001 and is responsible for the overall administration, promotion and development of the horse racing industry.

HRI have advised that historically, any bookmaker operating at a racecourse could only operate from one position within the betting ring in line with the relevant rules agreed between the respective bookmakers and racecourses associations.

With this rule now having been relaxed to allow bookmakers to operate from multiple locations and associated technological developments, HRI is currently reviewing the licensing implications of this change. HRI is anxious to ensure that any person placing bets on-course is properly protected in the event of any dispute or non-payment.

Any ongoing processes between HRI and any individual bookmakers are clearly a matter on which I cannot comment.