Fintan Warfield (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 47:

In page 25, between lines 9 and 10, to insert the following: “(4) In appointing the members of the Authority, the Minister shall have regard to the objective of there being no fewer than 1 member with lived personal experience of harmful gambling behaviours.)

"(5) In appointing the members of the Authority, the Minister shall have regard to the importance of an independent Authority and attempt to ensure that no more than 2 members have recent (within the past 5 years) paid employment with any licence holder or potential licence holder.”.

There are two parts to this amendment. The first is about the Minister having regard to ensuring that there is at least one member on the regulatory authority who has lived experience of harmful gambling behaviours. That is extremely important. The second is on the Minister appointing members to the authority, having regard to the independence of that authority and ensuring that no more than two members have recent experience in paid employment with any licenceholder or potential licenceholder. What we mean by "recent" is five years, which we have outlined in the amendment. This amendment reflects our desire for those in recovery to have a voice on the board. It also prevents double-jobbing or a revolving door and allows an opportunity to raise that while acknowledging that professional experience in the industry is not a bad thing overall.