Paul Gavan (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Minister of State is very welcome. I will speak in general terms and then specifically to Senator McDowell's amendments.

In general terms, we welcome the Bill. It has been far too long in the making. Sinn Féin's position is we want to see a stronger Bill than the one we have. We have a particular concern about the Minister of State's denial to date to ensure that at least one member of the gambling authority has a lived experience of gambling and the damage it can do. I am a little bit at a loss as to why the Minister of State is opposing that but I hope we can tease it out, and maybe he might have a change of mind on that.

The fact that there are so many Government amendments means there is room to actually amend this Bill here in the Seanad. Earlier today, this Chamber was effectively just a rubber stamp for the planning Bill. I hope the Minister of State does not give us a repeat of that here. He has a great way to start because Senator McDowell's arguments are very well founded. I have not actually heard any argument against them so far.

It is outrageous. I remember the 1980s, unfortunately. I was a kid at the time but I remember those places having to close and then the fact they have been running for years afterwards, and they are a complete parasitical scourge on working-class communities. They should not be allowed. This is a perfectly reasonable amendment to ensure local authorities have that power. If anyone here can disagree with that, I would like to hear why. In the spirit of compromise, I am genuinely going to approach this on a cross-party basis. I acknowledge the incredible work of Senator Joe O'Reilly, Senator Cassells and Senator Mark Wall, who have championed this for years. We need to acknowledge that on a cross-party basis.

I absolutely agree with the previous speaker with regard to the small handful of Senators who have effectively put themselves up as Senators-for-sale for the gambling industry. Let us call it what it is. It is an absolute disgrace. The Chicken Licken Senators tell us the horse racing industry is going to collapse if we do not do what they say. This is nonsense and I hope we will reject that roundly here.

These amendments from Senator McDowell are very well founded. Let us be frank, for a Sinn Féin Member to say that, it does not happen very often, but it is absolutely right in this case. We should all be able to come around to the table, agree on this and get this Bill off to a good start. I ask the Minister of State to please not reject these amendments.