Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 361: To ask the Minister for Justice and Law Reform the progress that has been made in relation to legislation on gambling; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39139/10]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I refer the Deputy to my reply to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 21 and 50 for answer on 7 October, 2010 in which I set out the necessary process involved in this matter before any legislative change can be addressed. The position has not changed since that date.

In essence, the position is that I initiated a major review of gambling in May of last year. The objective of the wide-ranging review is to provide Government with options for a new and comprehensive legal and organisational framework governing the gambling architecture in the State. It is a matter of record that successive Governments have shied away from attempting any significant reform of our gambling laws since our existing gaming and lotteries legislation was enacted over 50 years ago. Notwithstanding the foregoing, however, I am resolved to make our gambling laws relevant to the 21st century. In light of this commitment, I make no apology for taking the time to make sure this is done effectively. We must first achieve a policy in relation to a new gambling architecture that is capable of winning broad spectrum agreement. It is when this goal is achieved that we will be in a position to address the matter of legislative change, with some degree of confidence.

Any such new policy aimed at modernising our gambling code must take account of the issues raised by new technologies, particularly the Internet. In addition, policy must also be premised on the three important considerations which are the hallmark of most well-regulated gambling codes. These are:

that young people and the vulnerable are protected

that gambling should, in all respects, be fairly and openly conducted and

that gambling is kept free of crime.

Following the settling of that policy, arrangements will be made in the normal course to address the necessary legislative change.

As the first comprehensive review of our gambling law, effectively since the enactment of the Gaming and Lotteries Act 1956 draws to a close, it is reasonable to expect that any new legislation that may arise, will be both complex and comprehensive.