asked the Minister for Justice if the £61,000 penalty which was imposed for illegal bookmaking and which was referred to in an advertisement in the national newspapers by the Revenue Commissioners on 18 January 1984, has been collected.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Collection of Illegal Bookmaking Penalty.
10.
(Limerick East): The fine imposed by the court was mitigated to a lesser sum by the Revenue Commissioners under their statutory powers and that sum has been collected.
Is the Minister satisfied with this in view of the fact that in an advertisement on 18 January the Revenue Commissioners indicated the increased penalties for illegal betting and specifically referred to the penalty of £61,000 imposed in one case? Is he satisfied that illegal betting is being satisfactorily controlled or is any attempt made to control it? The fine has been mitigated to a lesser sum.
(Limerick East): My Department are only concerned with the collection of fines. The actual amount of the fine and the mitigation of it is a matter for the individual concerned and the Revenue Commissioners. I have no departmental responsibility for any fine the Revenue Commissioners might mitigate.
Is the Minister aware that on 7 February the Minister for Finance said there was no doubt but that there was a substantial problem in relation to illegal betting here? Yet there was no convictions in 1982, and only six last year. Would the Minister tell the House why serious efforts are not being made to control this illegal betting?
That is a separate question. The question on the Order Paper refers to a specific fine and its collection.
The Minister for Justice may find that the Minister for Finance is not attempting to control illegal betting. I am asking if the Minister for Justice is satisfied that this major criminal activity is proceeding in view of the fact that this £61,000 fine has been reduced?
(Limerick East): The mitigation of fines imposed by the Revenue Commissioners is a matter for the Revenue Commissioners, not the Minister for Justice. I understand the commissioners do not normally disclose the amount to which they have mitigated the fine. It is not my departmental responsibility. The question as posed talks about the collection of the fine and that is my departmental responsibility, mitigation is not.