Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)

I am adopting a simple and honest approach. I see young people betting when I go to the races in Roscommon. I am not a gambler — I do not bet at all. I do not understand the suggestion that one will become addicted to gambling if one places a bet of €1. One will normally lose one's bet anyway. One way to ensure one does not become addicted to gambling is to lose one's bets at Roscommon or Kilbeggan races. I do not think the Senator has a case in that regard.

It would be hard to implement the regulations and fines provided for in the Bill. If one is working at a busy race meeting with three minutes to go to the start of the next race, it might not be reasonable to expect one to look through the window to determine the age of the person placing a bet.