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

I agree with Deputy Daly. The one advantage we have with this Bill is that we are able to look at the legislation that is in place globally, see what has and has not worked and cherry-pick to ensure our Bill is the best legislation possible. The industry is providing funding to certain groups to provide education, counselling or a website where people can go if they think they are at risk of gambling harm but it is not a true reflection of the profits these companies are making and the effect gambling is having on people. We want to see a fund based on the size of the company and the profits it makes. The New Zealand model has a much stronger social impact fund. Companies with products that are the most addictive pay more. That model seeks to limit companies that provide products that are harmful.

The Minister of State spoke passionately about the significant problems relating to gambling addiction and harm. I have spoken to different groups that deal with people in addiction and those in recovery. They tell me there is a significant lack of support, be it counselling, therapies or education. We want to see this fund bring enough money to the gambling authority so that we can have supports. There are no stand-alone therapies for people in the throes of gambling addiction. We want to see this fund funding those therapies so that people who are in the throes of addiction or those at risk get the help they need.

Young people are being targeted. During Covid we saw the extent of targeting of younger people to get them to sign up. Some of the advertisements now are so sophisticated. We support what the Minister of State is trying to do with regard to blocking these ads but we also need to educate our younger people. We know that teenagers and young men in their 20s are at significant risk. The statistics are there to show they are being targeted. I am a GAA man but I love all sports. Some gambling ads feature top Premiership players and other top sporting people. We want to send a clear message to the industry that if it is going to target people and provide very addictive products, there will be a cost and that cost will go back into to supporting people in addiction and recovery and into prevention because, at the end of the day, this Gambling Regulation Bill must have a fair and equitable social impact fund. This is a very constructive amendment.

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