Joe O'Reilly (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

A few weeks ago, I asked the Leader in the Chamber whether she had a date for the introduction of the gambling control Bill. She honestly said then that she did not. I want to ask now whether there has been progress. I formally request that in the interim, before the Leader brings the Bill to the House, we have statements on gambling as a priority. I want to elaborate on this. A gambling addiction ruins more than one life. People chase losses with more gambling. They suffer mood swings and depression. It leads to dishonest behaviour in people who are otherwise honest, as well as to secretive and evasive behaviour.In a Covid context, online gambling has increased. The Paddy Power organisation has officially said that 77% of its profits come from online gambling. As much as €10,000 per minute is spent in this fashion in this country. I ask the Leader to arrange for a debate. I ask her to please bear in mind the awful statistic that, as we speak, 29,000 people in this country suffer from gambling addiction. That is the minimum figure that has been established by an interparliamentary group.

We should do the following quickly: impose a cap on each bet of €100; display statistics that show the problems like the warnings against smoking cigarettes; if a customer is very high on the list of high spending then he or she should be referred to addiction services; the numbers for addiction services should be displayed; only debit cards should be used; weekly spend should be monitored; and there should be a social fund. These are steps I would commend. I support the views expressed by Senator Cassells who raised the issue of gambling. I have spoken about gambling before and I will raise it again because we cannot give up on this issue. All I would say is that we are talking of tortured people. We all know them in our communities and among our friends. A gambling addiction has had devastating effects on families and children. I support everything that was said about the leaving certificate examination but what is happening to 29,000 people and their families is horrendous. Gambling needs addressing with a most radical plan, including in the advertising area that was identified by Senator Cassells.