Billy Lawless (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am totally opposed to the Bill to amend the Act dealing with amusement trades, especially sections 12 and 13 of the new Bill. Gambling is a blight on this country. It is a blight on our young people and this is only the thin end of the wedge. I have no problem whatsoever with local authorities having the power to grant amusement licences in their own areas as they know the conditions in those areas. We have a national lottery and we know that the funds from that go to good causes but I am totally opposed to a regulatory body taking over the regulation of licences. We have seen what has happened to our sportsmen in recent years and the terrible cases of addiction to online gambling, although I know we are not talking about online gambling in this case. Some of them have run up debts of €60,000, €80,000 or €90,000 and now we are going to make it easier for more types of gambling to be allowed in our community.