asked the Minister for Justice if he will review and amend the legislation governing the operation of the Irish Hospital Sweepstakes in order to ensure an extension of public control over the activities connected with the organisation of the sweepstakes.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Irish Hospital Sweepstakes.
8.
Since taking office I have had no occasion to consider whether any change in the legislation in this regard might be desirable. An important factor is that in recent years the receipts from sweepstakes have been declining—from an average of over £4.5 million per sweepstake in 1967 to an average of less than £2.5 million per sweepstake in 1977.
Arising out of the Minister's reply which I consider most unsatisfactory, is the Minister aware that the main function of the private company which runs the sweepstakes now appears to be not so much raising money for the hospitals as disposing of redundant workers including, in the last purge, a handicapped worker? Would he not further agree that the operation of the sweepstakes, as presently constituted under the existing legislation, is no more than a licence to print money for the company concerned? Finally, given the dwindling receipts to the Irish Hospital Sweepstakes, would he not consider that the operation of this outfit has become a national and an international disgrace and that he ought to do something about it?
With regard to the first part of the Deputy's question, I am aware that in recent times quite a sizeable number of people have been made redundant in this area. I do not at all accept the Deputy's statement that the operation of the Irish Hospital Sweepstakes is a licence to print money. I refer the Deputy to the part of my original answer where I said that in recent years receipts from sweepstakes have been declining from an average of £4.5 million per sweepstake in 1967 to an average of less than £2.5 million per sweepstake in 1977. I have no proof whatsoever to substantiate the charge made in the third part of the Deputy's question.
Is the Minister saying he is absolutely satisfied with the measure of public control over the activities of the company involved in running the sweepstakes?
I have no information whatever that the operations of the Irish Hospital Sweepstakes are illegal or contravening any of our laws.
Would the Minister not agree I have not made any allegation about illegality? I have asked the Minister if he is satisfied with the degree of public control over the operations of the sweepstake?
I apologise to the Deputy. I believed what he said in his earlier question to infer that it was a national and international scandal. I believed that meant that there was something illegal in the activities of the Irish Hospitals' Trust. I do not accept that, nor did the previous Government.
Is the Minister satisfied with public control over the sweepstakes?
I am.
Would not the Minister agree to bring the operation of the sweepstakes within the compass of the Gaming and Lotteries Act?
If the Deputy puts down a question on that, I will answer it in due course.
The Minister is satisfied but many other people are not.
All the Deputy's colleagues in the Labour Party and in the Labour part of the Coalition Government were very satisfied because at a Government meeting on 28 June, three or four days before going out of office, they gave a licence for two extra sweepstakes.
I am sure there was a very good reason for that.
Would the Minister not agree that the decision was in order to save jobs in the Irish Hospitals' Trust? What is the Minister doing to save jobs?