asked the Minister for Justice if he is aware that several cities and towns have made arrangements for shopping schemes for the Christmas trade; and if, in view of the great commercial and civic advantages arising from such schemes, he will give his sanction to such schemes for the present season.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Shopping Schemes for Christmas Trade.
My attention has recently been drawn to numerous "shopping schemes" which I was advised were in contravention of the Lotteries Acts and illegal. The organisers were informed by the Gárda Síochána that the schemes in question could not be tolerated and I am not prepared to give my sanction to any such schemes.
Will the Minister say if he got any advice last year or the year before that these schemes contravened the law?
The matter was not taken up in that way last year.
Will the Minister say when he was advised that these schemes were coming on and that they contravened the law?
There was a great increase in them this year in various parts of the country. They were inaugurated in places where they were not adopted previously and they were becoming a nuisance.
On what date was the Minister advised that these schemes were coming off?
Within the last six or eight months.
I would like to know from the Minister if this matter was drawn to his attention eight months ago and if he was aware that schemes were being prepared for this year and that they were going to contravene the law, why did he allow expenses to be incurred by groups of traders and commercial people and then step in after a considerable amount of money had been spent in organisation and a lot of work had been done in planning? Why did he not intervene six or eight months ago and prevent the dislocation and the expense that have been caused?
I gave an answer here a good while ago clearing up this matter as clearly as anybody could do it. Last September my Department issued a very full statement to the Press. That was published in all the daily newspapers and it was also broadcast and it set out very fully that none of these lotteries or schemes would be tolerated.
There was not a scrap of evidence in the Minister's statement.
Next question.
I want to ask the Minister a supplementary question.
Next question.
Why should I be precluded from asking a supplementary question? I was the originator of this particular question and I want to raise some matters in connection with it. Can I put my supplementary question now?
Question No. 17.