On the Gaming and Lotteries (Amendment) Bill 2019, in rural Ireland one of the most reliable bus services is the bingo bus. On foot of media coverage over the weekend, concerns have been raised by the operators of bingo events, in particular Midleton CBS Past Pupils Union. These organisations hold bingo events to raise funds for local clubs, which distribute the money fairly and legally. The proposed legislation provides for a cap of 50% on the prize money, which is based on the night's takings. In other words, if an event takes in €700 on the night, the maximum prize fund will be €350. There is another issue, namely, the roll-over jackpots. How is this covered in the legislation? If the Taoiseach wants to avoid an elderly lady swinging a bag at him, he will need to sort this out.

I call Deputy Aylward on the same issue.

I have no truck with the professional organisers of bingo events. I want to focus on the small bingo operators. Bingo is a rural pastime. Small minibuses collect people and bring them to and from bingo once or twice a week in the nearest town. The operators make approximately €100 a month.

This will cap that. It is a social thing and that needs to be taken into consideration. I am not talking about professional gamblers or people who make big money.

Does Deputy Martin Kenny wish to add to the case already made?

I understand that there are two sections in the Bill. Section 11 allows a lottery permit, which the Department tells us is what smaller bingo operations will come under. They will not be restricted in that way unlike where there is a lottery licence. It would be very useful if there was clarity on that as there are many people, urban and rural, many of whom we saw outside the gates of Leinster House earlier, who play bingo and enjoy the social gathering. It would not be in the interests of anyone on these benches that anything would be done that would in any way inhibit the enjoyment that these people have. Clarity would be very useful on that because it is badly required.

The Minister of State, Deputy Stanton, is not here but perhaps the Taoiseach will respond.

I assure any Deputies from rural Ireland that bingo is pretty popular in urban Ireland and Dublin.

I should not have said rural.

There are no plans to cause difficulties to bingo players. What is intended is a legislative change that will ensure that charities receive a fair share from bingo operators who act as their agents, that is a minimum of 25% of proceeds. These measures will increase transparency by placing some additional responsibilities on applicants for lottery licences. It is right and proper that the charities, as the licence holders, get a return for their charity. Over time, bingo operators arose to act as agents for charities and sports clubs. These agents were allowed by law to take up to 40% of the proceeds and charities frequently ended up with very little, which is wrong. To ensure this no longer happens the Minister of State, Deputy Stanton, proposes that a maximum of 25% of proceeds can go to operators, 25% to charities and 50% to prize winners. It is simply designed to ensure that the charitable purposes such as the sports clubs, school renovations and so on, will benefit as intended and as bingo players would expect.