Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I regret that the Minister of State is not able to accept these amendments. I think they are all really constructive and they are amendments coming from people across the Houses who have looked to highlight these issues. It has taken a long time to get to the point of having a gambling regulator and it is absolutely appropriate that people would try to offer constructive proposals to make sure that it works well and is effective. I do not think that is micromanaging, and I do not think any of the amendments put forward are micromanaging. They are, in fact, trying to simply ensure that the regulator is not constrained by overprescriptive measures but is instead mandated and able to take the action that is needed. The Minister of State mentioned himself the management of State resources. When decisions are made within an authority or a regulator about how money is allocated within that regulatory authority, then having things listed in its functions makes it easier for it to justify addressing resources towards those important activities, and that is important.

Crucially, I will have to challenge the Minister of State on this point - and probably will withdraw because it is so important - and I urge him to reconsider amendment No. 49 when he comes to it in respect of letting the reason for this Bill, which is to address compulsive gambling, be centre stage in the core functions. On that public awareness piece, the prevention point is not getting addressed. Again, i is not about social impact. The issue of social impact and the problem of those who are struggling with compulsive gambling behaviour is not the same thing as a society that is trying to prevent compulsive gambling behaviour. Our amendment, which sought to eliminate problem gambling, is trying to get to the point where problem and compulsive gambling is not an issue in society.Maybe that is ambitious but I think it should be the goal.

The social impact fund will deal with the problem of compulsive gambling downstream, which is incredibly important, but we are asking that the gambling regulatory authority deal upstream with the obligation to prevent the occurrence of problem and compulsive gambling. It should use creative strategies, including public awareness strategies, that are designed to prevent this occurring. I keep labouring these other examples. We do not want children to start smoking so we tell them smoking is bad for you. We do not wait until they start smoking to deal with it. It is important to deal with it then, but there is also a wider issue of prevention. As the independent body in this area, the authority should give leadership on that, rather than simply leaving it to the licensees or the social impact fund downstream. This is different and a good approach that fits the remit of the agency.

I will press a couple of the amendments but I will hold a couple back for Report Stage. I urge the Minister of State to think about that prevention piece and how we prevent the occurrence rather than dealing with the impact. It is a slightly different frame.