Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Bill is an important step in the right direction; it will level the playing field for independent or traditional bookmakers in respect of the multinationals of the world, and it will regulate online betting. However, I inform colleagues that it does nothing about online gambling. I ask each Member here who has a concern about this area - including the Minister of State, who has more power than any of us - to ensure something is done this year about gambling control. The Bill is welcome and we support it, but nothing in it relates to gambling control, which needs to be addressed urgently by the Government. Unfortunately, the Minister of State's response today on behalf of the Government tells me nothing will be done this year, but let us try to change this. I ask the Minister of State to take a message back from the Seanad today that it is not acceptable for this to be left to the next Government or a future Government and that it continue to be long-fingered. It is far too serious an issue. We have regulated one part of the industry but have left the other free. I state this on behalf of my party as finance spokesperson and leader of the group. This needs to be addressed, and I ask the Minister of State to take this back to the Government very clearly. We support the Bill, which is a good and important step, but nothing has been done on gambling. We need to get there much more quickly than the Government is outlining.