asked the Minister for Justice if the £61,000 penalty which was imposed for illegal bookmaking and which was referred to in an advertisement in the national newspapers by the Revenue Commissioners on 18 January 1984, has been collected.

(Limerick East): The fine imposed by the court was mitigated to a lesser sum by the Revenue Commissioners under their statutory powers and that sum has been collected.

Is the Minister satisfied with this in view of the fact that in an advertisement on 18 January the Revenue Commissioners indicated the increased penalties for illegal betting and specifically referred to the penalty of £61,000 imposed in one case? Is he satisfied that illegal betting is being satisfactorily controlled or is any attempt made to control it? The fine has been mitigated to a lesser sum.

(Limerick East): My Department are only concerned with the collection of fines. The actual amount of the fine and the mitigation of it is a matter for the individual concerned and the Revenue Commissioners. I have no departmental responsibility for any fine the Revenue Commissioners might mitigate.