Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Like Deputy Rabbitte, I thank Kevin Dillon of the Fianna Fáil research office and also the Bills Office for working with us on this. The current legislative framework on gambling is archaic, outdated and irrelevant. It is underpinned by the Betting Act 1931 and the Gaming and Lotteries Act 1956, which were introduced when there was no technology and barely any electricity. What we are trying to do is establish an office of gambling control within the Department of Justice and Equality, a new, modernised licensing regime that would address the complexity of gambling and a regulatory framework in respect of advertising restrictions. We want to break the link between sports and gambling. We want monitoring and enforcement of existing rules and to expand those rules.

Another issue is that gambling addiction is reaching epidemic proportions. Ireland has one of the worst statistics in Europe in terms of the level of gambling issues and addiction - we are third highest in the world in this regard - and this is against the backdrop of a legislative framework that is completely irrelevant and archaic. In this attempt to modernise our laws and introduce a regulatory framework, there will be flexibility for Government amendments to be introduced to reflect the complexity of the issue. We need to have a social gambling fund that reflects the turnover of the gambling industry so that it pays back in the context of people who have suffered the consequences of gambling, in particular those who are problem gamblers.

We all need to look at the statistics from the Rutland Centre. These show that there has been a threefold increase - up from 3% three years ago to 9% last year - in the number of people presenting with addictions relating to gambling. It is important that we have the legislative and regulatory framework to address this.

Deputies O'Callaghan, Rabbitte and I will be trying to progress this legislation through Second Stage. We hope that we have the support of the Government and we would like to see the Bill prioritised at the justice committee, of which I am a member. The legislation introduced by the former Minister for Justice and Equality, Alan Shatter was very proactive in nature. Unfortunately, his successor did not prioritise it but we would like to see this introduced. I believe it is in everyone's interests for gambling to be regulated in order that we can turn the tide in respect of many of the issues people face, including the effect on their health. I hope we will receive the support of Government.

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