Irish Bookmakers Association

Lobbying Organisation Irish Bookmakers Association

Date published 29 Apr, 2019

Relevant Matter Legislation

Public Policy Area Budgetary matters

Period 1 Jan, 2019 to 30 Apr, 2019

Specific Details 100% Increase in betting tax has rendered hundreds of Independent betting shops nonviable, causing thousands of unnecessary job losses and a loss of taxation to the exchequer.

Intended results To get Minister for Finance to review the 100% increase and introduce a fairer tax that will not force independent operators to become nonviable and close hundreds of betting shops

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Sharon Byrne

Did any Designated Public Official(DPO) or former Designated Public Official(DPO) carry out lobbying activities on your behalf in relation to this return? You must include yourself, and answer Yes, if you are a current DPO or a DPO at any time in the past. (What is a Designated Public Official?) No

Did you manage or direct a grassroots campaign? Yes

What is the directive you gave to the grassroots campaigners? To contact all political representatives in their area outlining how this 100% increase is forcing them out of business. All were encouraged to visit politicians in their constituency offices, in the Dail and on the streets during local election canvassing. Members sent emails and some had poster campaigns. Members were asked to seek independent assessment of how grave their trading conditions now are and to send to politicians and to Dept of Finance.

Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client? No

Mass communications

Email All Oireachtas Members To contact all political representatives outlining how this 100% increase is forcing independent operators out of business. All members were encouraged to visit politicians in their constituency offices, in the Dail and on the streets during local election canvassing. Members sent emails and some had poster campaigns. Members were asked to seek independent assessment of how grave their trading conditions now are and to send to politicians and to Dept of Finance. IBA also sent emails to all politicians and dept of finance, updating them on shop closures, job losses and losses in tax to exchequer

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Meeting (1)

Meetings to outline how the 100% increase is forcing independent operators out of business. 100% increase in turnover tax is unobtainable/unaffordable for any business. 21 shops closed since January 1st, 105 Jobs lost, Taxation lost €1,197,000. There are 5-6 staff in every shop, with shops located in most towns and villages across Ireland. Betting shops cannot pass this tax on to customers. Will cause 2500+ jobs to be lost, with 10,000 people affected and thousands of suppliers affected. Each job lost will cost exchequer c€20k per year.

Designated public officials lobbied

The following DPOs were lobbied during this return period on this specific Subject Matter Area. These DPOs were involved in at least one of the Lobbying Activities listed above, but not necessarily all of them. As returns are specific to a Subject Matter Area the above Lobbying Activities may be associated with multiple returns.

Helen McEntee Minister of State (Department of Foreign Affairs)

Paul Kehoe Minister of State (Department of Defence)

Robert Troy TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Michael D’Arcy Minister of State (Department of Finance)

Michael McGrath TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Damien English Minister of State (Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government)

Pearse Doherty TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Kieran O'Donnell Senator (Seanad)

Peter Burke TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Michael Healy-Rae TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Kevin O'Keeffe TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Anthony Lawlor TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)