Irish Bookmakers Association

Lobbying Organisation Irish Bookmakers Association

Date published 20 Sep, 2023

Relevant Matter Matters involving public funds

Public Policy Area Taxation

Period 1 May, 2023 to 31 Aug, 2023

Specific Details Budget 2024

Intended results To demonstrate how the doubling of betting duty since 2019 has had a profound negative effect on licensed betting shops and to urge the Government to consider a sustainable tax for the overall betting sector.

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? No

Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client? No

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Submission (1)

The IBA drafted a pre-budget submission, in association with Emirate Associate Professor of Economics, Tony Foley, DCU, to demonstrate how penal the doubling of the betting duty has been for retail betting operators, and to ask the Minister to consider introducing a sustainable and practical tax for the sector. We also requested a meeting to discuss our submission.

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.

Michael McGrath Minister (Department of Finance)

Grant Sweetnam Special Adviser (Department of Public Expenditure and Reform)