Mr. Gerry Cooney:

I do not mind sharing my thoughts. Gambling is an issue with which we are very familiar. Apart from the obvious financial implications, the impact on families, relationships and the individual is immense. The secrecy is a big issue, as the Chairman said. The other addictions are obvious and noticeable but because gambling is so secretive, people can get into serious difficulty before anybody else is aware it is happening. As I said earlier, all addictions are very progressive. What might start somewhat manageable becomes less so until it is completely unmanageable. Early intervention, as we agreed earlier, is very important but it is very hard to achieve in the case of gambling. It is a serious problem and we are coming across it more often. The people concerned are becoming younger because younger people have access to online betting and smart phones have increased the accessibility of gambling compared to the way it was years ago. There is something tangible about handing one's money over across a counter whereas tapping on a screen does not have the same connection at all. Unfortunately, people run into difficulties at a serious level very quickly. The Chairman is right that it is an issue that needs attention. It needs to be addressed and acknowledged. As is the case with everything, we need to accept that there is a problem there before we can attempt to do something about it.