Marie Sherlock (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State very much for coming into the Chamber. I echo the thanks my colleague, Senator Wall, has given in that the Government has allowed time for us to debate this Bill today. I grew up in a household where there was, if I may call it this, a healthy scepticism of the two main political parties at the time. While there would be a discussion about the issues of the day, there was certainly never any talk about specific legislation.

I grew up being very aware of one Act for which there was enormous respect in my house, however, which was the Family Home Protection Act 1976. It was introduced well before I was born to ensure the family home could not be sold or given away over the head on any one spouse in particular, which was usually the woman. I grew up hearing the story of a man, and this was before 1976, who was a problem gambler who went out one night, played a game of poker and lost the family home in that game. He had to go home to his wife that night and tell her he had lost the house. The following day, she took her own life.

Whether it is playing the lotto, placing an annual bet on the English or Irish grand national, entering the local GAA draw or going to the races, gambling in itself is not an egregious act. I grew up with all that. What is egregious, however, is that day in, day out in this country, gambling companies spend millions of euro trying to induce more and more people into gambling. I think of one advertisement in particular. What is most outrageous about it all is that there is a blatant attempt to communicate a message that everyone is doing it and this is a normal daily activity whether someone is en routeto a wedding, out with friends or going about his or her work. The psychology behind these advertisements is that if you are not part of the club or not doing it, then, in some ways, you are not normal.

Ireland has a gambling problem. In 2019, we had the seventh highest gambling spend per capitain the world. TheCollege of Psychiatrists of Ireland talks about the pervasiveness of gambling addiction and has labelled it a "hidden epidemic" in this country.

I am so proud of my colleague, Senator Wall, in all the work he has done in this area. I know the Government has highlighted its plans in this area and we will not be found wanting in supporting those. There is an urgency in bringing forward this legislation, however, and moving on with the gambling regulator. Our Bill to ban gambling advertising is only one small but hugely significant step in addressing this hidden epidemic in this country. The ban would strip commercial gambling of its glamour. It would take the constant reminder of gambling away from our screens and allow us to enjoy those matches or races without the constant interference flashing across our television screens. For the thousands of problem gamblers trying to deal with their addiction, it is one less image in their faces as they try to deal with their problem. As Senator Wall said, our Bill is not a ban on gambling itself but it does send a message that the manipulation of gambling through advertising must end. He referred to research that showed 63% of people were more likely to place a bet after seeing an advertisement.That cycle needs to be broken and that is why it is vital ads are banned across all media platforms, in print and online. In needing to ban gambling advertising, we are recognising that Ireland has a major problem and many young people, particularly young men, have that problem. In 2019, the European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs showed that Irish 16-year-olds were 1.3 times more likely to bet on sports and animal betting and 1.8 times more likely to use slot machines than other young adults on average across Europe. That 61% of all 16-year-olds in this country are betting on sports and racing tells a story in itself.

We are all aware that it is not as simple as banning gambling ads. There is so much more that has to be done but we have to make a start. Too many lives are lost, too many livelihoods are forgone and too many families are crushed by this gambling problem. I hope the Minister of State will support this Bill and its speedy progress into law as soon as possible.