Vol. 443 No. 6
12 Mr. McGahon asked the Minister for Finance the plans, if any, he has to introduce legislation to enable bookmakers to open their premises for evening racing; and if his attention has been drawn to the fact that SIS are now transmitting live evening coverage during the summer flat racing season.
Given the public order dimension of the issue, I am guided by my colleague, the Minister for Justice, who has primary responsibility for such matters.
In response to representations made to her on this issue, the Minister for Justice indicated she would not be disposed to support an amendment changing the permitted hours of the opening of bookmakers premises at this time.
I have no plans to introduce legislation changing the permitted hours of opening for bookmakers' premises.
I note the Minister's negative response and I am curious as to the reason for it. In Northern Ireland and in Great Britain generally, betting offices are open in the evening. Throughout the summer there are now as many race meetings in the evening as there are during the day. In the winter horse racing takes place on floodlit racecourses.
Would the Deputy like to declare an interest?
I have an interest in five betting offices.
I am pleased to have given the Deputy the opportunity to put that on the record.
Obviously there would be an increased wage bill to keep such offices open for longer hours. I do not have a particular view on this but I would be interested to know why there is such a negative attitude? Thinking ten years ahead, Sunday and late opening will probably be the norm. While such development may not add to the profitability of the industry, it is likely to be a facility the ordinary punter will require.
Some months ago the Minister for Justice had discussions with a number of bookmakers and she informed them that she would not be amending the 1931 Act in regard to hours of opening. It is a matter for the Deputy to pursue the issue with the Department of Justice if he so wished. Some bookmakers who made representations to me because the 1931 Act came through the Department of Finance indicated they would like the hours changed but just as many have indicated their objection to extending the present opening hours. Some offered the opinion that such change would result in job losses, particularly for board markers, because of increased operational costs and the likely introduction of new technology. Others said it would possibly result in an increase in crime against betting offices in parts of the city. Those representations were made by people from my constituency. I received a number of letters too, indicating that any such change would damage the greyhound racing industry——
It probably would.
——which is the subject of some publicity at present. Some have cited the detrimental effect extended opening hours would have on domestic life. Longer working hours in betting offices would add also to the supervisory workload. There is not an agreed line, then, among the bookmakers on this issue. Perhaps it is for that reason that both I and the Minister would be reluctant to make decisions for a group who have not made up their own minds.
