Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 26 January 2005
759 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Gaming and Lotteries Act 1956 is widely breached; the measures taken for enforcing the provisions of the Act; the number of prosecutions in each of the past five years for breaches of the Act; if he has plans to review the Act; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1648/05]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Garda Síochána is responsible for the investigation of complaints of breaches of the Gaming and Lotteries Acts and the provisions of the Acts are part of the general enforcement measures employed by them. I have been informed by the Garda authorities that statistics for 2004 are not yet available. However, the number of proceedings commenced and convictions for the four years up to and including 2003 are as follows:
|
Year |
Proceedings Commenced |
Convictions |
|
2000 |
38 |
21 |
|
2001 |
120 |
35 |
|
2002 |
2 |
1 |
|
2003 |
13 |
4 |
An extensive review of the Gaming and Lotteries Acts 1956 — 1986 was carried out in 2000 by an interdepartmental group which made recommendations for legislative amendments in this area. Draft legislation is under consideration in my Department to update key elements of the provisions relating to gaming. These new provisions will focus in particular on the area of gaming stake and prize money limits.
