Results 4,101-4,120 of 14,127 for speaker:David Stanton

Seanad: Gaming and Lotteries (Amendment) Bill 2019: Report and Final Stages (11 Jun 2019)

David Stanton: We will debate that provision at that time. I would be interested to hear what colleagues have to say about it, but at that time. That is not what we are doing here. It would appear that the thrust of the Senators’ amendment, and having regard to other proposed amendments ruled not in order, would effectively allow a free for all approach to online gaming. This is what the proposed...

Seanad: Gaming and Lotteries (Amendment) Bill 2019: Report and Final Stages (11 Jun 2019)

David Stanton: Private members clubs are currently not covered by the law. We know this. There is no intention in the proposals being brought forward by this Bill to have any impact on those clubs. That is not the intention. Beyond that, the Senator will be aware that I have been very open on the intention of establishing a regulator. I have changed that from being an office in the Department of...

Seanad: Gaming and Lotteries (Amendment) Bill 2019: Report and Final Stages (11 Jun 2019)

David Stanton: We had extensive debate on this point on Committee Stage. I am not sure if the Senator was present at that time.

Seanad: Gaming and Lotteries (Amendment) Bill 2019: Report and Final Stages (11 Jun 2019)

David Stanton: We held an extensive debate on the issue then. As I stated then, I have no function in regard to the national lottery, its regulation or licensing. That is a matter for the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform under the National Lottery Act 2013.In that Act, the Minister did not provide for any prohibition on bookmakers, be they land based or remote, on offering bets on any or all of...

Seanad: Gaming and Lotteries (Amendment) Bill 2019: Report and Final Stages (11 Jun 2019)

David Stanton: I thank the Senators for their consideration of this Bill. It is an interim measure as I said at the start. I would like to have gone much further but the establishment of a gambling regulator is a major task, extraordinarily resource intensive and very complicated and I want to get it right. We have done a great deal of work on this to date. I will listen to what Senators have to say on...

Seanad: Gaming and Lotteries (Amendment) Bill 2019: Report and Final Stages (11 Jun 2019)

David Stanton: -----have been more active in that regard recently than in the past. It is my intention to progress this Bill as fast as I can through the other House to ensure its enactment, hopefully before the end of this session. I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach and the Senators for their consideration of it.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (11 Jun 2019)

David Stanton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 299 and 366 together. The Deputy will appreciate that crime prevention and investigation, including in relation to the involvement of children in crime, are operational matters for An Garda Síochána in the first instance. That being said, I share the Deputy's concern that we do all that we can to prevent children and young people from coming...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Youth Diversion Projects (11 Jun 2019)

David Stanton: In 2018, my Department provided €13,752,726 in grant funding which covered the full year costs of 105 Garda Youth Diversion Projects operating nationwide. A further €2,829,882 in grant funding was provided to support a range of other activities, including project work relating to Local Drugs Task Forces, pilot mentoring initiatives and measures to support training and best...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Gambling Sector (11 Jun 2019)

David Stanton: I have addressed on a number of occasions, the issue of "loot boxes" and whether they constitute a gambling or e-commerce offering. A licence is required under the Betting Acts 1931 to 2015 or the Gaming and Lotteries Act 1956 to sell gambling products, and gaming, as defined under the latter Act, is covered in that regard. While the Minister for Justice and Equality has certain...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision Data (11 Jun 2019)

David Stanton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 359 to 361, inclusive, together. Due to the large volume of information requested by the Deputy, it is not possible to supply the statistical data in the format required. However, the data requested for the period 2010-2017 is available on under Annual Reports. In addition, please find the requested information for 2018 and up to 6 June 2019 in the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Coroners Service (11 Jun 2019)

David Stanton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 367 to 370, inclusive, together. My Department was made aware of the circumstances surrounding the death and burial of the person concerned. I want to express my deepest sympathies and condolences to that person's friends and colleagues on their loss. It is a matter of profound regret to me, and to the Department, that her friends heard of her...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision Data (30 May 2019)

David Stanton: The Reception and Integration Agency in my Department is responsible for the procurement and management of accommodation and ancillary services for persons in the protection process. All accommodation centres for those persons seeking protection, whether State-owned or privately owned, are operated by commercial companies. There are currently 39 accommodation centres being operated under the...

Seanad: Gaming and Lotteries (Amendment) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (29 May 2019)

David Stanton: I am delighted to be in the Seanad for the debate on this important legislation. As I said on Second Stage, the Bill seeks to address certain deficiencies with regard to the conduct of gaming and lottery activities regulated under the Gaming and Lotteries Act 1956. Pending a comprehensive reform of gambling laws, which we are working on, the Bill proposes a number of interim reform measures...

Seanad: Gaming and Lotteries (Amendment) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (29 May 2019)

David Stanton: I again thank Senators for their contributions and acknowledge the sincerity and seriousness by which colleagues here take this significant issue. This Bill is interim legislation. As I have said here previously and in the other House as well, we are working hard on bringing forward a Bill to regulate the entire sector and to set up a gambling regulator. That is a very large piece of work...

Seanad: Gaming and Lotteries (Amendment) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (29 May 2019)

David Stanton: Let me respond to Senator Norris's question. The national lottery is the big one, the sums of money are enormous. The rest of the money goes on prizes, administration and advertising. It is a major advertiser. Senator Mark Daly has acknowledged that in order to offer a betting service in Ireland, one must be licensed. If one is licensed one has to pay taxes and licensing fees. Those...

Seanad: Gaming and Lotteries (Amendment) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (29 May 2019)

David Stanton: The lottery is run by a private company, so it is private. I am not sure whether that information is publicly available. We can endeavour to see if we can get that information. It is a private operation. It is a large successful operation.

Seanad: Gaming and Lotteries (Amendment) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (29 May 2019)

David Stanton: Amendment No. 2 is a textual amendment removing a full stop to reflect the fact that a further definition is being proposed for insertion. Amendment No. 3 is occasioned by section 7 of the Bill, which inserts a new section 19A in the principal Act. In the proposed new section 19A(3)(d) there is a reference to relevant officers. This is based on the comparable provisions in sections...

Seanad: Gaming and Lotteries (Amendment) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (29 May 2019)

David Stanton: I acknowledge the thrust and intention of the Senator's amendment. I have some good news for him. I share with Senators-----

Seanad: Gaming and Lotteries (Amendment) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (29 May 2019)

David Stanton: The Senator will be even more delighted in a minute. I hope we can have a meeting of minds on this. There are deep concerns about the best way to address the issue of harmful gambling, which has an impact on the lives of people who are addicted, on their families and on wider society. There is no doubt that we all share these concerns. I agree that we must seek to better understand the...

Seanad: Gaming and Lotteries (Amendment) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (29 May 2019)

David Stanton: It is being done. It is happening now.