Kevin O'Keeffe (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

582. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if her attention has been drawn to the term within the video gaming industry of loot crates which is in effect is a system whereby in game currency or real money is used to unlock certain procedures or cosmetics within a particular video game; her views on whether this is an inappropriate form of in game gambling that preys on young children leaving them exposed to a form of online gambling at a young age; and the measures she plans to take to address this issue. [50306/17]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I am not familiar with the issues to which the Deputy refers. My Department has no remit in relation to the regulation of video games or online technologies. The classification of video games and regulations relating to gambling are within the remit of my colleague the Minister for Justice and Equality.

However, I am concerned about the need to protect children from online abuse and other dangers from which they need protection. I believe these issues require a whole of Government approach as I have outlined in my reply to Deputy Rabbitte's Priority Question today.