Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Bill, which is a good first step. Its focus is on facilitating the taxation of remote betting and levelling the playing field for bookmakers. Everybody will agree with this. I cannot disagree with anything my colleague in the Opposition stated. The gambling control Bill is an essential part of the gambling and betting jigsaw which must be put in place. We have now put in place one very important piece of this jigsaw, but it will not have the desired effect until such time as we have debated the gambling control Bill and it is in place. I appeal to the Minister of State through his good offices to try to expedite the passage of the Bill so that it will be published by summer and introduced before the end of the year. Without it, what we are doing will only deal with part of the problem. We are trying to repeal a 1931 Act, but online betting and remote betting is far ahead of the legislation, as much has changed since 1931. Much has changed since 2010 in the industry and this will continue on an ongoing basis. We are in a catch-up situation. Unless we deal with the gambling control Bill as a matter of urgency we will fall further behind. People and families will suffer as a result, and I appeal to the Minister of State to try to expedite the gambling control Bill. I thank the Minister of State and his officials, as much work has gone into the Bill. I wish him well and I hope the gambling control Bill will come before us before the summer.