John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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169. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality when she will publish the gambling control Bill; if this Bill will have provision to deal with the issue of excessive advertising and promotion by online betting and bookmakers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25947/16]

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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The General Scheme of the Gambling Control Bill was published in July 2013 following approval by the Government and is currently in drafting by the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel., The Bill, as proposed, will update all existing laws on the regulation of gambling, including betting and gaming but excluding the National Lottery. It will provide for the licensing of all forms of online gambling. The General Scheme was referred to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality for consideration and observations. The Joint Committee received 29 submissions and held public hearings following which it issued a report on 6 November 2013 which contained 8 conclusions and was laid before the Houses.

The Gambling Control Bill will, as set out in the General Scheme, confer responsibility for all regulatory matters on the Minister for Justice and Equality. The Minister's functions will include licensing, inspections and prosecutions, and it is envisaged that these functions will be carried out by a body located within the Department of Justice and Equality. The General Scheme also provides for a dedicated inspectorate to ensure compliance by licence holders with the terms of their licences and with the new legislation generally.

The Gambling Control Bill will have consumer protection generally as one of its core principles, and it is envisaged that it will include several measures aimed at the protection of vulnerable persons, including children, from risks to their well-being arising from gambling. The Scheme includes measures that will require licence holders to act in a socially responsible way. These measures will include controls on advertising, promotions and sponsorship.

The Deputy may wish to note that the Advertising Standards Authority, in its most recent code published in 2015, included specific provisions relating to the advertising of gambling products.

It is also worth noting that the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland is currently engaged in a consultation exercise regarding a revision of its General Commercial Communications Code. This Code will also include specific provisions for gambling operators.

It would remain the intention to proceed with this legislation at the earliest feasible opportunity and, in that light, I expect that this will be given renewed consideration in the preparation of the next legislation programme. At the same time, and pending the bringing forward of the main Bill, I have also asked my Department to examine whether there are any individual pressing areas of concern, intended to be dealt with in the Bill, which could be dealt with sooner by separate legislative measures.In support of these efforts the Government has delegated powers of the Minister for Justice and Equality under the gaming and lotteries legislation to me.