Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
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To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality in view of the fact that the Casino Regulation Committee report was published in July 2008 and Options for Regulating Gambling was published in December 2010, when will the heads of the Gambling Control Bill be published; if he intends to have a further consultation period before bringing forward such a bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38214/12]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will recall that in September 2011, I announced that the Government had approved my proposals for new legislation on the regulation of gambling. I am pleased to report that the Heads of a Bill are at a very advanced stage in my Department and that I hope to bring them to Government later this term for its approval and agreement to proceed to formal drafting.

As I expect the Deputy is aware, extensive consultations on the shape of an appropriate regulatory system for gambling have already taken place over an extended period. I believe we now need to move to the next stage, namely the formulation of legislative proposals, and all the indications are that is also the view shared by operators and by those concerned about the shortcomings in the current systems. However, I can tell the Deputy that, subject to the Government's agreement, I propose to make the Heads available on my Department's website when they have been approved by the Government and while drafting is underway. That will not only inform interested parties about the Government's overall position, it will also provide an opportunity to refine and improve on the proposals before a Bill is finalised.