Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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It is welcome that we are trying to update our legislation on gambling. I mentioned this during the Second Stage debate. I think any of us who have been in touch with or contacted recently by individuals affected by the proposed legislation will be aware that this is a very unregulated yet highly competitive industry.

Regarding the legislation generally, I think we all agree that it would be preferable if we had very detailed legislation regulating the whole area of gambling and imposing a gambling regulator that could regulate issues such as private clubs, casinos and so on in a consistent way. I understand, however, that we do not have that in this legislation. I commend the Minister of State on bringing forward some amending legislation. I can see what he is trying to do.

Regarding Deputy Ó Laoghaire's amendments Nos. 1 and 2, I had considered tabling similar amendments in this format because I was also contacted by, I think, the Gaming & Leisure Association of Ireland GLAI. There are many different organisations in this sector. I did not table the amendments for reasons I do not need to go into. The GLAI's concern is that if this legislation is enacted, it will find itself outside its parameters. I do not know whether that is necessarily so. I know that the GLAI has legal advice stating as much. What it reveals is that we need to regulate all areas of the gambling business, but at present it appears to be the case that only some will be regulated. I note what the Minister of State says about private members' clubs. He seems to think it is not necessary for them to be dealt with in this legislation since they are not covered by it. There is a lot of strength in that argument, considering that they accept they are not regulated by the 1956 Act, which therefore raises the question, why would amending legislation affect them? I will give consideration to these issues as well. I may table amendments on Report Stage but, as Deputy Ó Laoghaire said, it might be beneficial if the Minister of State gave further consideration to this before Report Stage.