A county council is to write to Law Reform Minister James Browne calling on the legislation to be re-examined because of the potential for local charities to be adversely affected by the new gambling advertising restrictions.

Charities and radio stations believe proposals in the Government’s new Gambling Bill banning betting advertising between 5.30am and 9pm will prevent the promotion of certain fundraisers where gambling and raffles may feature.

This will not apply to the National Lottery because it is regulated by separate legislation.

National Lottery advertising and promotion activities must comply with a code of practice enforced by the Regulator of the National Lottery.

However, charities have questioned why their promotional activities could be hampered by the new laws.

“I understand the rationale behind allowing the National Lottery to advertise because of the good causes it generates funding for, but it seems unfair for charities or voluntary groups to be restricted when it comes to promoting their own activities,” a source at one charity told the Sunday Independent.

​Councillors in Kerry last week agreed the local authority should write to Mr Browne and ask that the bill be reviewed immediately “so as not to impede charities”. It came after they voted in favour of an emergency motion put to the council by Fianna Fáil councillor Mikey Sheehy, who sits on the board of local cancer charity Comfort for Chemo.

Mr Sheehy’s motion said charities, voluntary sporting groups and community organisations who are not involved in “non-commercial fundraising activities” should not be negatively hampered by the bill.

This came after radio stations raised concerns about potential restrictions on advertising for charity run raffles, games and events that may feature gambling.

Charities and radio stations said they see this as an unintended consequence of the bill.

“While the bill is very welcome and long overdue, the current wording relating to advertising has the potential to impact severely on the advertising of such fundraising endeavours especially through local radio and local media,” Mr Sheehy said.

Comfort for Chemo has previously benefitted from funding raised through local radio bingo games.

Broadcasters fear being unable to advertise such games if the bill is enacted without being amended. This would threaten the viability of the games, they said.

The Independent Broadcasters of Ireland (IBI) has raised these concerns with the Minister and is to meet with TDs and senators in Leinster House this week to highlight its fears regarding the bill.

National Lottery activities come under the remit of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.

A spokeswoman for the department said while the Gambling Bill will not regulate the National Lottery in any way there are strict restrictions around its promotional activities.