Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I feel the same as Deputy Gould. When you are in the throes of addiction you can lose hope. It is a really dark place to be. When you enter into recovery you get your hope back and it is an absolutely fantastic place to be. I was at a presentation at a recovery café and other parts of an addiction centre today and I could see the hope and the recovery in the room. The people in there who show bravery and have the support to come through that journey need to know we are listening to them in here. They need to know they are valued in this place. As I said, each different part of addiction, be it alcohol, Internet, gambling or whatever it might be have traits right across, such as the loss of hope and all that, but gamblers have that unique insight into gambling and having them on the authority to have their voice there will send out a clear message. It will send a clear message that we listen to them and value them and that their journey is not in vain. It is about having somebody on that authority with lived experience. Having it stated in legislation there should be at least one person on that authority with lived experience would send out a clear message of hope and value to people who showed bravery and courage to come through their addiction journey.

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