Mr. Barry Grant:

There was a great deal in the Senator's contribution and I thank him for his thoughts and questions. The Senator asked if gambling should be discouraged. While people may perceive that the project on which we work is anti-gambling, that is not the case. We have never called for a prohibition on gambling and we understand many people enjoy it as a pastime with low to moderate levels of harm and, in some cases, no harm at all. We are not trying to stop or prohibit gambling.

Harmful gambling should definitely be identified so that people know what it is. That has not happened in the history of this State at a statutory level. Harmful gambling, in my view as an addiction counsellor, should be discouraged by the State and providers of gambling products.

I am not going to have a pop at the Revenue Commissioners regarding the machines in Dublin. I do not know how to answer that question.