Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I did not interrupt the Minister of State. I know people who have lost their lives because of gambling. I know people who have lost their families and their homes. That is the stuff on which we support the Government and we have come to the Chamber to back it. They did not lose their lives or their homes by buying a ticket to a GAA draw. They lost them on slot machines or in betting offices. I am not sure when the Minister of State was last in a betting office. They are like casinos. I invite people to go in and look at them. They are pulling every trick in the book to get every penny out of people.

I will tell the Minister of State what I think of his comments. I have legislation before the House that would ban the use of credit cards in gambling. Why has the Government not included that provision in this Bill? Why is it allowing people to gamble with money they do not have?

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