asked the Minister for Justice if he proposes to alter the present regulations which prohibit Northern Ireland bookmakers from doing business in the Republic; and, if so, when.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Bookmaking Regulations.
12.
This is not a matter of regulations. The position is that, to practise as a bookmaker, a person needs a licence and, to get a licence, he needs a certificate of personal fitness. Under the Betting Act, 1931, the granting of a certificate to persons resident outside the State is a matter for my discretion, as Minister for Justice.
Heretofore, it has not been the policy to grant such certificates except to a small number of Northern Ireland bookmakers who held licences here since 1939, or persons acting in their places. A couple of months ago, I decided to modify this policy in favour of Northern Ireland bookmakers, subject of course to my being satisfied as to character and financial stability. As a result of that decision, a number of applications have been made and are at present being processed. Since this is, in effect, a new departure, the processing of the applications may take some little time but I hope to have them dealt with in a few weeks.
Can the Minister say what "personal fitness" means as applied to a bookmaker?
That the punters' money is safe with him, that he is not a fly-by-night, that he does not disappear and, if the Deputy has any difficulty with this problem, I would refer him to the Deputy sitting behind him.
With all due respect to my colleague, I back on the Tote.
It is safer.
Can the Minister tell us, does he intend introducing legislation to stop the flow of bets out of the country to Northern Ireland and England by way of pools and otherwise?
That is a separate question.