Joe O'Reilly (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Cathaoirleach for welcoming the pupils, teachers and SNAs from St. Anne's National School in Bailieborough. I live beside St. Anne's. It is a wonderful school community and we in Bailieborough are very proud of it and the achievements of St. Anne's in so many areas. It is an excellent school for which the entire community feels ownership and pride. It is wonderful that they are here. It typifies the excellence of the school that it is considered important to visit the Houses of democracy to see how Government works and see how the Seanad and Dáil work. It is a great honour for the school. I thank the Cathaoirleach for welcoming them.

If I may raise another matter, the Leader will be aware that I have consistently raised the issue of gambling. We have made considerable progress. I applaud the work of the Minister of State, Deputy Browne, and the Minister, Deputy McEntee, in that area over the previous months. The Minister of State has brought forward the legislation and arrangements for the regulator. I would like an update on progress. Belgium has recently banned all gambling advertising. That is worthy of looking at. We have also had the recent outrageous case of the major gambling company engaged in wrong practice in regard to addicts in the UK. That merits examination. One of the greatest ills in our society, and the young people here in the Gallery will appreciate and understand this, is the pernicious addiction to gambling. I am not speaking about normal social gambling, the occasional lottery ticket or the bet on Aintree. I am not talking about that kind of gambling but rather, addiction to gambling prejudicing children, homes, marriages, properties, the whole lot. It is a huge addiction and needs a two-pronged intervention. We need a strong gambling regulator and strong legislation. We also need, and I would like the Leader to look at this facet too, to resource the Department of Health in a way that it can support gambling addicts, which is a separate area for people who have already succumbed to addiction. I will leave it with the Leader and look forward to her response. It is one of the most urgent matters and serious human conditions that will be brought before her today.