Results 901-920 of 5,629 for speaker:Thomas Gould

Written Answers — Department of Health: Care Services (25 Apr 2024)

Thomas Gould: 299. To ask the Minister for Health when the Westfield integrated care centre in Ballincollig, Cork will be fully operational. [18483/24]

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.

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

Thomas Gould: It is self-explanatory that the authority should come under the Freedom of Information Act. This is important. There is the whole issue of transparency, accountability and independence. Why would we not grant the ability to make an FOI request? The Minister of State might not think it is necessary. We discussed it at the justice committee. It is always important to put in protections...

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

Thomas Gould: I move amendment No. 18: In page 26, between lines 13 and 14, to insert the following: “(s) participating in the revision of the money laundering or terrorist financing risk assessment as it relates to gambling biennially in collaboration with the Anti-Money Laundering Steering Committee, liaising with An Garda Síochána, the Revenue Commissioners, and any other relevant...

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

Thomas Gould: I move amendment No. 20: In page 28, between lines 27 and 28, to insert the following: “(4) The Office of Government Procurement and the Authority shall produce an annual report, to be laid before the Oireachtas, detailing any and all activities under this section.”.

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

Thomas Gould: I am disappointed the Minister of State will not accept the two proposals we made in amendment No. 17. He recognised the importance of people with lived experience being on the authority. The problem is if is not copperfastened in the legislation there is no guarantee we will have a person with lived experience on the board and it is vital the authority has that vast experience available to...

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

Thomas Gould: When will the Minister of State fix it?

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

Thomas Gould: No. If it is a problem, the Deputy is the Minister of State. Why has he not fixed it?

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

Thomas Gould: Yes. It has been broken already.

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

Thomas Gould: You are the Minister of State.

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

Thomas Gould: We discussed these matters at the justice committee and the Minister of State referred earlier to protecting people, harmful gambling and people at risk. We believe that at least one member of the authority should have the lived experience and personal knowledge of what it is like to go through the throes of addiction so that, when the authority meets, there is a voice in the room that can...

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

Thomas Gould: What the Minister of State said was very disappointing. As I and everyone else said here, we thought this debate would be constructive. We worked with the Government and said how important the legislation is. I made a point about unintended consequences. A Minister can make a mistake and the Department can do so just as easily, just as I could, but we tease things out and discuss them...

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

Thomas Gould: 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...

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

Thomas Gould: It is not.

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

Thomas Gould: I brought froward that Bill and the Minister of State is accusing us-----

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

Thomas Gould: One of the first things I learned when I became a TD is that when it comes to legislation and amendments, there is the possibility of unintended consequences. The longer one is here, the more experience one gets and one learns that a Bill or an amendment, in and of itself, might be introduced for the right reasons but it can have ramifications or consequences that are way beyond whatever it...