Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am sympathetic to the amendment proposed by Senator Darragh O'Brien but I await the Minister of State's response. I share the Senator's concerns regarding the gambling control Bill. It was intended that it would be introduced in parallel with the Betting (Amendment) Bill. I am aware it is a matter for the Department of Justice and Equality but it is not leading to the spirit that was intended in respect of them in our not having them running fairly close together. I hope the Minister of State might be able to throw some light on that in regard to the gambling control Bill.

This Betting (Amendment) Bill fails to introduce even the most basic social protection measures such as those found in other regulated jurisdictions whereby online operators are obliged to provide time-out facilities and allow players to set a maximum time limit for gambling purposes before they commence play. Such measures would be a fundamental licensing requirement in other jurisdictions. While this Bill is worthy of support, the heavy hitting in terms of the backup measures that are required will come in the gambling control Bill . I am disappointed that it has not been advanced to such a stage where we could immediately move on to discuss it within the next number of weeks. That is obviously not going to happen, but I would hope it could be enacted this year. If more resources are required in order to deal with the framing and drafting of it, they should be put in place because of its importance for people to have such a Bill in place. I am sympathetic towards the Senator's amendment and I await the Minister's response as to whether he can accede to it.