Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for the reply but the Government's delay in this area is simply unforgivable. As I said in the opening question, it was in 2011 that the then Minister, Deputy Shatter, announced plans to change the law on gambling. In 2013, the Department of Justice and Equality published the general scheme of a Gambling Control Bill which was expected to update the 1956 legislation. Since the publication of that general scheme in 2013, there has been extremely limited progress. We engaged on this matter and were hoping the Government would bring forward legislation but such was its delay that earlier this year Fianna Fáil brought forward its own legislation based on the general scheme of the Gambling Control Bill. My colleagues, Deputies Jack Chambers and Rabbitte, were instrumental in that. We produced the legislation and I think it got through Second Stage in this House. It is now the responsibility of the Government to ensure that Bill gets through or its own legislation is promptly produced. We have waited too long and we need adequate answers.

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