Richard O'Donoghue (Limerick County, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Research is telling us that 61% of 16-year-olds in Ireland have placed a bet. The Oireachtas justice committee's report on gambling has warned that 3,400 young people under the age of 18 have a problem with gambling. We all know how dangerous gambling is. We can see how, with the touch of a button, people can now gamble 24-7.

I am a big supporter of the horse industry and the greyhound industry. If you go for a day out to horse racing or a night out to greyhound racing, you will go to the bookies who are there on the day or you will have a bet on your night out. That is responsible betting. However, being around betting 24-7 as advertisements are pushed out makes people think it is normal to have betting. I have major problems with that. I am for any legislation that will help members of the younger generation and the older generation who have a problem.

We brought the Impaired Farm Credit Bill 2022 before this House last week, but it was voted down by the Government. In some of the situations we were looking at, farms were under threat due to gambling. The family home cannot be protected in such circumstances because the Government voted against the Bill. We do not know the circumstances of anybody's family. There could be alcoholism or gambling addictions and those affected require help. The people who are trying to help them also need help. We tried to do this last week when we brought the Impaired Farm Credit Bill before the Dáil, but the Government voted it down. That would have been another protection for people who have a gambling addiction.

The biggest thing we need to do is to educate younger people on the limits of what they can bet, and show them that they will not be looked down on if they do not have a bet. I see many people who bet responsibly but a minority of people have an issue with betting and cannot stop. It is a disease and we have to try to help people by putting things in place. This will help the generations and let them know how they can bet responsibly.

Some advertisements are being put up around schools. Some online advertisements are trending on phones non-stop. We are talking about gambling today and I guarantee the Minister of State that in the next three or four feeds on our phones, something to do with gambling will show up to make sure that we look this content on our phones. We should tackle that. As I have said, if you want to go for a day out and have a few flutters, that is normal. However, we have to protect the people who are gambling 24-7 from their homes. They can use a credit card and put themselves into serious debt. They think they can bet their way out of it. I will give 100% backing to every Bill that is tabled in this area to protect those people. Every household in Ireland has been hit with some form of gambling or alcoholism within the family. We want to give protections to people. The Gambling Regulation Bill is a chance for Ireland to bring its outdated laws into the 21st century.

Gambling companies know that the game is up. The experts are facing down the odds once and for all. Let us turn the odds not against the ordinary bookies who are at race meetings, etc., but against the social media giants that take advantage of people 24-7 with repetitive flashes to go betting. Let us target them and make sure the regulation is there for the next generation and for the generations that are here at the moment. We must protect them, their families, their futures and the livelihoods of others. I will support any Bill that will protect families and the futures of the people to come.

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