Horse Racing Ireland

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 2 March 2017

Thursday, 2 March 2017

Ceisteanna (276, 277)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

Ceist:

276. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if consideration has been given to amendments to the legislation governing bookmakers on course to allow that all staff for the bookmaker in question be licensed, provided that at least one person on course has a licence, rather than requiring all staff to obtain a licence, including a lengthy and arduous process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10858/17]

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

Ceist:

277. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason bookmakers on course are required to have a licence for each member of staff on course, as distinct from bookmaking shops such as chain outlets, which are only required to have a single licence for the entire shop and all the staff therein, even when located on course. [10859/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

I propose to take Questions Nos. 276 and 277 together.

I have made enquiries with Horse racing Ireland (HRI) and I have been informed that the current legislative provisions require that any person carrying on the business of a bookmaker at a racecourse must be the holder of both a State Betting Licence issued by the Revenue Commissioners and either a Course Betting Permit or Course Betting Representative Permit issued by HRI.

Staff working for any such bookmaker are not required to obtain a licence once the permit holder is present.

I have no plans at this time to amend legislation governing bookmakers and betting in the Irish Horseracing Act, 1994.