Clare Daly (Dublin North, Socialist Party)
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168. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality when updated legislation to control and licence gambling is likely to be introduced; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a company (details supplied ) have been guilty of criminal activity in relation to interactive gambling; and the plans he has to prevent such operators from being able to trade. [54632/13]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will understand, it would not be appropriate for me to comment on alleged breaches of the criminal law in a foreign jurisdiction.

My Department is preparing new legislation to control and licence gambling. The Gambling Control Bill will update and replace all existing laws on gambling (other than those relating to the National Lottery). The Government approved the General Scheme in July this year and it has been available on the Department's website since then. The Scheme has also been considered by the Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality and the Committee's Report has been published. I hope to publish the Bill next autumn.

I will be including two particular measures in the Bill that are targeted at the regulation of on-line operators, especially unlicensed on-line operators. These measures are in addition to a comprehensive set of new measures applicable to all operators.

The first of the additional measures provides the basis for enhanced cooperation arrangements at the international level between regulators. These arrangements will facilitate contacts and exchanges of information between our authorities and their counterparts abroad, thereby making it more difficult for those operators trying to avoid detection.

I am also proposing that the regulator may apply for Court orders to prevent, disrupt or obstruct receipt of the unlicensed service; these orders will result in what is commonly referred to as "blocking" of the website. Orders may also restrict publicity, including advertising that refers in any way to the service, as well as prohibiting banks from executing financial transactions with the unlicensed operator. I believe these measures will be effective but I am prepared to consider additional measures if they can be shown to add to the controls on these sites.