Aidan Davitt (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I rise today to speak about the new gambling legislation that has been before the House and is due to come back again. I certainly welcome many of the measures in it, especially around hand-held devices and ease of access without a lot of proof. It is important legislation, particularly for problem gamblers. However, one part I disagree with is that someone who looks at racing on a paid-for subscription racing channel will not be able to see advertising for gambling companies.That is really a bridge too far. Our economy, as we are all aware, is quite reliant on our horse breeding and racing industry. I cannot see why, when people who are old enough are looking at a television channel and paying for a subscription to see horses and whatever else, they could not see advertisements from these companies. I think it is a little bit Irish. I would not have a problem with gambling advertisements being banned on general terrestrial television but banning it on paid-for channels is nanny-State stuff.