Mark Wall (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Acting Chairperson for her kind words and encouragement. As Senator Cassells said, a number of Senators have spoken passionately over the past two years about gambling. Indeed, I have joined Senators Cassells, Pauline O’Reilly and Mullen on a number of podcasts on this important topic. Concern about this issue is cross-party and that message is loud and clear here tonight. As has been said, we have been waiting since the 1950s for legislation like that which is being proposed by the Government and like the Bill before us tonight. It is good to hear united voices across the Chamber tonight, as has been the case for the past two years.

I thank my colleague, Senator Sherlock, who has been very supportive of this legislation since we first introduced it. As she said earlier, it was 1976 when important legislation in this area was introduced. She spoke about day-in, day-out gambling and that is what this Bill is all about. It is about those people who, unfortunately, cannot control their gambling addiction. That is why we are here tonight and that is why all Senators, as well as the Minister of State, have spoken in favour of bringing in new legislation. Senator Crowe is completely right that legislation governing this area is thoroughly outdated, having been introduced in the 1950s. The last commitment we got was in 2013. Any time one talks to those involved in helping those with gambling addiction, they refer to 2013. Now, in 2022, with the Minister of State's proposed legislation alongside this Bill, we are finally seeing a commitment from the Oireachtas to bring forward long-overdue legislation.

Senator O'Loughlin quoted Mr. Richie Power. I was not aware of his case until I read about it recently and I am sure that is the case for others in this House. Mr. Power is a decorated Kilkenny hurler and a person I have looked up to for so long. His message is very important. Those who are signing up to promote gambling companies should talk to the Richie Powers and the Oisín McConvilles of this world to find out what it is really like to have an addiction. I have spoken to them and they are so generous in giving their time to people who have a gambling addiction. They explain what it is like to go home with no money in one's pocket and to have to lie to one's loved ones about where the money has gone. Every one of those people who sign up, especially the sports stars, should talk to the Oisín McConvilles, the Richie Powers, and the Davy Glennons of this world, to whom I have spoken. I am sure the Minister of State has spoken to them too.

I agree with Senator Carrigy that we all gamble. I come from County Kildare, the home of Punchestown and have an interest in gambling. Hopefully I will see Senator Carrigy at the Longford day but both he and I can control our gambling. As others have said, we are in a position to control our gambling but tonight we are representing those 40,000 people who cannot control it. We are trying to introduce legislation to protect them and to ensure that their number does not grow to 50,000 or 60,000. The latest research suggests that up to 130,000 people could develop an addiction and that is something that nobody in this House or in our public health system wants to see.

Senator Mullen questioned some aspects of the legislation and I accept that it is not perfect. The Minister of State said the same and we accept that. However, what we are doing here is trying to address a problem that exists. Hopefully when we get this Bill to Committee Stage, Senator Mullen and others will be able to table amendments to it to improve it.

The national lottery is a problem in the context of advertising but there is a separate regulator for the lottery. That is something that needs to be looked at. Senator Pauline O'Reilly said that the lottery has been reaching out to Members and indeed, I got a phone call yesterday. Representatives of the national lottery want to talk to us again about what they are doing. I am happy to talk to them but when I do so, I will be representing those people who need help. It is very important that public representatives continue to talk to those people because it is important to hear their side of the story as well.

Senator Pauline O'Reilly spoke about gambling addiction and welcomed the fact that the role of chief executive of the new gambling regulatory authority was advertised recently. We all welcome that development and hope the authority will be up and running as soon as possible.

I also thank Senators Ó Donnghaile and Black for their contributions. Senator Black has always been very supportive of this legislation. She mentioned other issues that I am sure the Minister of State will tackle in his forthcoming legislation. I could not agree more with Senator Cassells, who displays such passion every time he speaks about this subject. We do need to call out those sports stars who are signing up for money. They need to sit down with the Oisín McConvilles of this world because they would think twice about doing it then. Senator Joe O'Reilly has always been very supportive on the subject of gambling addiction. One of the questions I get asked regularly in the context of this debate is what happens to the sports clubs when the money is taken away from them. Senator Joe O'Reilly mentioned State support and we need to look at that. As Senator Cassells said, we must also acknowledge what Drogheda United and other clubs in the League of Ireland have done in walking away from gambling sponsorship. They have shown great leadership and that must be acknowledged.

I acknowledge the work that the Minister of State has done in this area. We have spoken regularly about what we can do for those 40,000 people in Ireland with a gambling addiction. I look forward to continuing to work with him. I thank the Government for not opposing this legislation tonight. The Labour Party is not giving up today. We will continue to represent those people who come to our clinics and who contact us by email and through social media. I have been inundated with correspondence on this. I spoke about a lady earlier and how it was great to see that she has been able to turn her life around. We must also have a conversation about the fact that there is help out there for people. People should pick up the phone and seek help. There are some great organisations out there. Many could do with more funding but that is a conversation for another day. I thank everybody for their contributions to this debate.