Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for the work he has been doing and commend Senator Craughwell on his motion and the way in which he has articulated, not just tonight but on other occasions, the issue of gambling. It is important to say, as has already been eloquently said in the House, that there is a need for regulation, for a regulatory authority and a regulator. Senator McDowell speaks about the failings of the past and we cannot but learn from them because the social cost is mounting. We have all heard about the high profile cases of the celebrity or prominent sportsperson. Equally, there is the person who we will never know, who is living in a three-bed semi-detached house or whatever and is gambling, his or her addiction mounting up a store of problems. The social cost, as Senator McDowell rightly said, is one we count in the number of lives and careers lost.The world of gambling has changed. It has gone from the high street and is now online. We probably all have the Paddy Power app on our mobile phones to check the general election odds in constituencies. Before I came in, I downloaded the app to see what it was and the first thing I saw was a rewards club being advertised as more than just betting. This entices a person to go on further.

I want to make another point which is not necessarily on the same topic but which is linked. I refer to the issue of loot boxes, which I have spoken about in the House before, and to gaming in general. I thank the Minister of State for the courtesy he extended to me and to my adviser on this matter, Mr. Eoin Barry, who has done a lot of work with me on the issue of loot boxes and gaming in general and on the issue's links to online gambling. Again one can spend money, which can build up resulting in personal effects. I have had the privilege of working with Mr. Barry and meeting representatives of the Interactive Software Federation of Europe, ISFE, which is the European representative body, as well as Mr. David Sweeney and the Minister of State, Deputy Stanton.

We recognise that we must enact change. That is why I was struck by a petition brought before the Committee on Public Petitions, of which I am a member. It sought to have a regulator set up for the gambling and gaming industry. It in interesting that it was the third petition of this nature to be considered. I do not want to pre-empt the Minister of State's speech, but we are working towards the establishment of an independent gambling regulatory authority.

With regard to the gaming and lotteries (amendment) Bill, it is important to recognise that we need to see how the legislation can be kept relevant and able to address issues which are evolving every day. Many of us do not understand half of what is happening in respect of online activity around loot boxes and gambling. The points Senator Craughwell has made in previous debates are worth considering and should be reflected in the Bill. We have had pre-legislative scrutiny of the Bill and I hope the Committee on Public Petitions will have another opportunity to discuss the issue in April.

The important point is that we are giving this topic consideration and an airing and that we are highlighting it. Senator Conway-Walsh made a point about the modus operandiof companies and about the intent and import of their activities. It is not just to get us all to spend money, but to keep us spending money. That is what they are trying to do. I will conclude on that. I welcome this debate. I commend Senator Craughwell not only on his contribution tonight, but on his other contributions on this particular matter in other areas. I hope that the Bill will be fast-tracked in the overall scheme of legislation because it is an issue which is not going away or diminishing; it is getting worse. All of us who recognise that want to see action, as does the Minister of State.