Results 41-60 of 1,045 for in 'Dáil debates' speaker:Thomas Gould

Gambling Regulation Bill 2022: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (1 May 2024)

Thomas Gould: I would like to speak.

Gambling Regulation Bill 2022: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (1 May 2024)

Thomas Gould: I hope the Minister will be able to clarify. One of the requests of the groups and people I have met is that there would be a complete ban on all inducements, including free bets, free spins or that people get €20 or €30 if they sign up. It is my understanding, and I will stand corrected if I am wrong, that the Minister of State said that specific people and groups cannot be...

Gambling Regulation Bill 2022: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (1 May 2024)

Thomas Gould: I do not want to be confrontational or get into an argument. I sat in for some of the justice committee because my remit is addiction, recovery and well-being. It is very important that this Bill is right. At no stage did anyone feel - maybe I am wrong here - that this would affect sporting organisations and charities. That was never the intention. This was for the likes of Paddy Power,...

Gambling Regulation Bill 2022: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (1 May 2024)

Thomas Gould: Mr. Ahern and I had a meeting about coaching the other night. He does a lottery for the club every Sunday night, as does Mr. Tommy Collins and another few lads, all of whom are volunteers. I mentioned what was happening and Mr. Ahern could not believe it. He did not know about it. I was talking to people in GAA clubs over the weekend. I was talking to a club treasurer and I asked him if...

Gambling Regulation Bill 2022: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (1 May 2024)

Thomas Gould: First, I welcome the Minister of State's decision to bring forward amendments in the Seanad. This is a very important Bill. The reason it did not get the scrutiny it needed in the justice committee is that no one thought charities or sporting organisations would be covered. People view gambling as online gambling, betting shops and in-person gambling. They do not look at the GAA, sporting...

Gambling Regulation Bill 2022: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (1 May 2024)

Thomas Gould: What subsection is that?

Gambling Regulation Bill 2022: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (1 May 2024)

Thomas Gould: I did not take that from this, but if the Minister of State is giving a commitment that this legislation will ban the use of credit cards, not just online but for all gambling, I accept that. It is in store anyway.

Gambling Regulation Bill 2022: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (1 May 2024)

Thomas Gould: I move amendment No. 64: In page 92, between lines 4 and 5, to insert the following: “Prohibition of Credit Card Gambling 113. (1) A licence to which this section relates shall not be issued by the Authority to an applicant for such licence unless the application is accompanied by an undertaking given by the applicant in the prescribed form stating that if the licence is issued...

Gambling Regulation Bill 2022: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (1 May 2024)

Thomas Gould: I ask the Minister of State to reconsider his position on this. This is a constructive and positive amendment. It seeks to protect people who are vulnerable and at risk. It would prevent people from losing money they do not have. I take on board the Minister of State's sincerity with regard to the Bill and that he is trying to bring forward the best possible legislation, but we have to...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Childcare Services (30 Apr 2024)

Thomas Gould: I spoke to the Minister last week regarding the Before 5 childcare facility in Churchfield. It had a preschool, after-school care, a crèche and adult education. It had everything and was in a DEIS area in the heart of Churchfield and Gurranabraher. It has closed down but €364,000 will get it open. That would get hundreds of kids into childcare in our community but we cannot...

Petrol and Diesel Excise Rate Increases: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (30 Apr 2024)

Thomas Gould: The Government has planned three excise and carbon tax increases on petrol and diesel this year. These increases should not go ahead. The Dáil will be on holidays in August when the review of prices, which the Minister of State talked about, will happen. Does the Minister of State know what happens in August? Parents get ready to send their kids back to school because they are back...

Petrol and Diesel Excise Rate Increases: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (30 Apr 2024)

Thomas Gould: Not all children have the free schoolbooks scheme. That is not in place in August. Will it be in place? The fact is that ordinary people are trying to send their kids to school or college and to go to work. The Minister of State talks about a just transition. Can I explain something? If the Minister of State ever goes to Grenagh in Cork North-Central, which is my constituency, in a...

Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Bill 2024: Second Stage (Resumed) (30 Apr 2024)

Thomas Gould: I am supporting a lady in my constituency who is currently in unsuitable housing. She is housed by Cork City Council. She has applied for a transfer and the council has agreed to this. It has offered to her to go on the transfer list and is assessing her situation. She is a survivor of the mother and baby homes. She is someone who the Minister probably knows personally. She has assisted...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (30 Apr 2024)

Thomas Gould: Last Friday, the Residential Tenancies Board, RTB, revealed that 544 families and individuals received notices to quit in Cork city in the first three months of the year. Those are people who are facing eviction in the next few months. Can you imagine being one of those parents not knowing where you and your family are going to live in a few months' time? In a seven-week period, 15,000...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (30 Apr 2024)

Thomas Gould: What about the 544 families?

Gambling Regulation Bill 2022: Report Stage (24 Apr 2024)

Thomas Gould: I ask the Minister of State to give some clarity on amendment No. 54. A reference to "betting" is being removed and it is unclear why. The amendment seeks to delete "once-off gaming, betting or lottery activity or product" and substitute "once-off gaming or lottery activity or product". I know I always refer to my own club, St. Vincent's. I am on the board of management of Gaelscoil Pheig...

Gambling Regulation Bill 2022: Report Stage (24 Apr 2024)

Thomas Gould: I have listened to Deputy Doherty’s point of view. We have a guy in our club, Vincent Ahern, who goes around and runs all the draws. He is a brilliant bit of stuff. He is going around bars and shops on Blarney Street on the north side of Cork city, putting up posters to advertise all of the different fundraising that the club will be running during the year. If we get to a...

Gambling Regulation Bill 2022: Report Stage (24 Apr 2024)

Thomas Gould: 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...

Gambling Regulation Bill 2022: Report Stage (24 Apr 2024)

Thomas Gould: The Minister of State referred to the exemption for An Garda Síochána. I do not know how we can correlate an exemption for An Garda Síochána, which is for very sensitive information, and an exemption for a gambling authority. To be honest that does not sit with me. The Minister of State spoke about the systems being set up already to ensure transparency. In another...

Gambling Regulation Bill 2022: Report Stage (24 Apr 2024)

Thomas Gould: I believe we should bring in the amendment and I will press it but I will not call a vote.