The Minister proposes to take the Totalisator Bill, 1929—from the Seanad— now.
In Committee on Finance. - Totalisator Bill, 1929—From the Seanad.
The Dáil went into Committee to consider amendments inserted in the Seanad.
I move: "That the Committee agree with the Seanad in amendment No. 1":
Section 6, sub-section (3). The sub-section deleted and the following new sub-section substituted therefor:
"(3) Every regulation made under this section shall be laid before each House of the Oireachtas as soon as may be after it is made, and if either such House shall, within the next subsequent twenty-one days on which it has sat after such regulation is laid before it, pass a resolution annulling such regulation, such regulation shall be annulled accordingly, but without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done thereunder."
That was put in in substitution for sub-section (3) of Section 6, which provided that the Minister might prescribe penalties. It is now proposed by the Seanad amendment that the regulations should lie on the Tables of the two Houses of the Oireachtas and be subject to ratification.
Question put and agreed to.
SECTION 3.
I move "That the Committee agree with the Seanad in the following amendment:—
Section 3. A new sub-section added at the end of the section as follows:—
"(6) Where the Minister grants a licence to any person or persons to operate in any place or places or where the Revenue Commissioners set up, maintain or work a totalisator at any place or places the persons having the management of such place or places shall provide a place or places whether in a building or not where licensed bookmakers (provided always that they are not disqualified persons under any recognised rules of racing) may carry on their business and to which the public may resort for the purpose of betting, and the charge to any such licensed bookmaker and to any assistant accompanying him for admission to such place or places for the purpose of the licensed bookmaker's business, shall, in the case of any such licensed bookmaker not exceed five times the amount and in the case of an assistant not exceed the amount of the charge made to members of the public for admission to the place or places where the licensed bookmaker intends to carry on his business."
The object of this amendment is to prevent the Executive of racecourses at which the totalisator may be installed from raising the prices to be charged to bookmakers to such a point that they would, in fact, be excluded. I believe it is the same as the section which is in the British Act.
Amendment put and agreed to.
NEW SECTION.
I move "That the Committee agree with the Seanad in the following amendment:—
Before Section 7 a new section inserted as follows:—
"7.—If any person contravenes any of the conditions or restrictions subject to which the Minister has issued a totalisator licence under this Act or contravenes any regulation made by the Minister under this Act he shall be guilty of an offence and shall for each offence on summary conviction thereof be liable to an Excise penalty of five hundred pounds."
I have already dealt with this amendment.
Question put and agreed to.
Amendments ordered to be reported.
The Dáil went out of Committee.
Agreement with the Seanad amendments reported.
Question—"That the Dáil agree with the report of the Committee"—put and agreed to.
Message to be sent to the Seanad accordingly.