Aidan Davitt (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I fully support the general thrust of this Bill to limit gambling. As Senator Carrigy has said, they have not canvassed anybody and certainly have not talked to me about this matter heretofore.

The argument that the lottery has a monopoly, which is the case in Ireland, has passed me by somewhat. On altering certain freedoms concerning gambling and the lottery in Ireland, I would say it is a given that more people are addicted to the lotto and scratch cards than to gambling on lotto numbers. I would have no problem in respect of other forms of gambling, such as gambling on horses, online gambling and everything else.

The minimum cost of a lotto ticket is €4 and I am sure that most people spend €6 on the lotto plus ticket, for which Senator Carrigy might have the figures. The small man who cannot afford to spend €6 on the lotto a couple of times a week or whatever might like to spend 10 cent, 50 cent, €1 or whatever and pick two numbers in order to have a chance of winning a few bob, as alluded to by Senators.

The programme for Government is full of ways to open up monopolies be it Bord Gáis, Bus Éireann, Dublin Bus or the ESB, which is heavily in the news at present due to the issues with power and whatever. There are more monopolies in this country. I am surprised with the timing of this legislation as a regulator for the gambling industry is due to be appointed. The appointment has been talked about for a while and is mentioned in the programme for Government.

Lastly, I am quite disturbed by some of the national lottery advertisements. I am seriously concerned with the advertisements broadcast on television because they try to manipulate by looking like children's entertainment. One advertisement shows a water slide on the side of an apartment block in Dublin city centre. Do these advertisements seek to manipulate the next generation into gambling? I am uncomfortable with the advertisement and am very disappointed with the national lottery.

I am delighted to be able to say all that in this forum. I am not anti-gambling but if I had my way, I would ban Internet gambling. I am certainly not overly pro-gambling either. To me, the advertisement showing a massive water slide coming out of an apartment block in Dublin is what children would see as entertainment and the advertisement is shown during the daytime as part of mainstream media. To me, the advertisement is wrong. The management of the national lottery should hang their heads in shame for running such an advertisement. I have explained how I feel about these matters and hope that the Senators, and the Minister, will take them on board.