Seanad Éireann - Volume 91 - 14 March, 1979

Gaming and Lotteries Bill, 1979: Committee and Final Stages.

SECTION 1.

Question proposed: “That section 1 stand part of the Bill.”

Mr. Molony Mr. Molony

Mr. Molony: Could the Minister tell me where one can find the definition of a slot machine? It does not appear to be in the Principal Act of 1956.

Minister of State at the Department of Tourism and Transport and Posts and Telegraphs (Mr. T.J. Fitzpatrick) (Dublin South-Central) Minister of State at the Department of Tourism and Transport and Posts and Telegraphs (Mr. T.J. Fitzpatrick) (Dublin South-Central)

Minister of State at the Department of Tourism and Transport and Posts and Telegraphs (Mr. T.J. Fitzpatrick) (Dublin South-Central): I am informed that as such there is no definition of a slot machine in the Acts.

Mr. Molony Mr. Molony

Mr. Molony: I appreciate the urgency of this measure but one of the difficulties about taking Bills quickly is that one does not get the opportunity that one would like to consider whether better legislation could be brought before the House.

621

The Minister in his Second Stage contribution referred to slot machines that do not deliver a prize direct to the player when successfully operated. What type of slot machine does the Minister have in [621] mind? For example, is a pool table that one pays money into, a slot machine?

Mr. T.J. Fitzpatrick (Dublin South-Central) Mr. T.J. Fitzpatrick (Dublin South-Central)

Mr. T.J. Fitzpatrick (Dublin South-Central): The type of machine I referred to in my Second Reading speech is a machine which if one wins does not pay out directly. One must draw the attention of an attendant to the fact that the machine indicates that one has won a prize and then he will pay out accordingly.

Mr. Molony Mr. Molony

Mr. Molony: This is a technical area and today was the first day I had an opportunity to look at this. Why differentiate between them? They are both gambling machines, the only difference being that the proprietor of the amusement centre pays one in one instance and in the other instance the machine pays out direct.

Mr. T.J. Fitzpatrick (Dublin South Central) Mr. T.J. Fitzpatrick (Dublin South Central)

Mr. T.J. Fitzpatrick (Dublin South Central): That is correct.

Mr. Molony Mr. Molony

Mr. Molony: Why differentiate?

Mr. T.J. Fitzpatrick (Dublin South-Central) Mr. T.J. Fitzpatrick (Dublin South-Central)

Mr. T.J. Fitzpatrick (Dublin South-Central): I am informed that there is no differentiation since the passing of the 1970 Act.

Mr. Molony Mr. Molony

Mr. Molony: I thought perhaps public telephones could be described as slot machines.

Question put and agreed to.

Section 2 agreed to.

Title agreed to.

Agreed to take remaining Stages today.

Bill reported without amendment, received for final consideration and passed.

Seanad Éireann 91 Gaming and Lotteries Bill, 1979: Committee and Final Stages.

General Debate

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