Patricia Ryan (Kildare South, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

We in Sinn Féin welcome the Bill and will support its passage to Committee Stage, where we will table amendments to its deficiencies. It is a comprehensive Bill dealing with the regulation of gambling. It is an important step but it must be accompanied by funding for addiction services, awareness campaigns and supports that are free of industry influence. In April this year, several Government Deputies and Senators attended a corporate hospitality event at Punchestown Racecourse, at which the Irish Bookmakers Association paid for three tables. At the same time, the legislation was being prepared. The Government needs to clean up its act and move away from the cosy relationship it has with vested interests.

We in Sinn Féin support regulation and acknowledge its importance to prevent the involvement of organised crime. The Bill provides for the new gambling regulatory and makes other welcome changes in the law around gambling. Gambling addiction damages the lives of far too many people across Ireland every day. Thus far, successive Governments have failed in their duty to protect people who experience gambling addiction and failed to support those who seek help. Current legislation is decades out of date and has failed to keep pace with the online world. As a result, our young people in particular are exposed to predatory forms of online advertising and gambling, which should be regulated. Those in recovery and our young people are suffering because of a lack of action. They are bombarded with gambling advertising on social media during sports matches and while watching television. I was shocked to learn that young people can sign up to online gambling without any age verification for up to 72 hours. It is no wonder we have some of the highest problem gambling rates among 15- to 16-year-olds in Europe.

Modernisation of the law on gambling is long overdue. It must be made fit for purpose to tackle problem gambling. The issue of gambling addiction must get the attention it deserves. I truly hope this Bill fares better than the first gambling control Bill, the general scheme of which was published in 2013 and has been gathering dust ever since. There are approximately 55,000 people in this State engaging in gambling in a harmful way and there are countless others indirectly impacted. Gambling harm has a catastrophic effect on individual families and communities. In recognising this, we must finally regulate the sector in a way that protects those vulnerable people. The fact that a CEO for the commission has been hired is a good sign of intent. I wish Ms Caulfield the very best in her role.

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