Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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190. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality for an update on the work done to date by the CEO of the Gambling Regulatory Authority. [30206/24]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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The Gambling Regulation Bill 2022 sets out the framework and legislative basis for the establishment of a new, independent statutory body – Údarás Rialála Cearrbhachais na hÉireann, the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland – and for a robust regulatory and licensing regime to regulate gambling in-person and online, and for the regulation of gambling advertising, websites and apps.

The Bill is currently at Committee Stage in the Seanad and it is expected that it will be enacted in the coming months.

After the Bill is enacted, the GRAI will be legally established and will commence operations on a phased basis. A seven-person authority will be appointed following a competition by the Public Appointment Service (State Board).

In terms of staffing, along with the CEO Designate, three Directors are in situ in the areas of Licensing, Corporate Services and ICT. There are also seven staff supporting the three Directors at different grades. Permission has been sought from DPENDPDR to recruit nine further staff this year and it is anticipated that these positions will be advertised in the coming months.

The Programme Board and the Implementation Support Team of the GRAI has undertaken substantial work across key functional areas of the Authority, including putting in place a tendering process for ICT systems needed for the new Authority.

There has been extensive stakeholder engagement with other gambling regulators, industry participants, health care professionals, gambling care experts, and other public bodies including regulatory bodies.

This has allowed the team to understand the views and concerns of various stakeholders as well as learning from the lived experiences of people harmed by gambling and the experiences of regulators in other jurisdictions. This stakeholder engagement will continue as the GRAI becomes established on a statutory basis.

A research steering committee has also been established and reports on gambling in Ireland have been commissioned and published from the Economic and Social Research Institute.

The research has given the Implementation Support Team a clearer picture of gambling in Ireland and will be instrumental in providing an evidence basis for the Authority’s approach to regulation, education, and awareness. Further studies are planned and will be published in the coming months.

Substantial work is also underway towards the establishment of a licensing regime for the sector. This includes the publication of a licensing interest survey, numerous contacts with potential licensees, and substantial work in developing a robust licence application process, in consultation with long established Gambling Regulators in other jurisdictions.

The team has also been developing the draft Codes of Practice for operators in line with the bill, which will include informal consultation with key stakeholders in the coming months. The draft codes can be published following commencement of the legislation and once approved by the Authority.

The team is working toward the establishment of a Gambling Exclusion Scheme and its work in this regard has included stakeholder engagement and exploring Gambling Exclusion Schemes in other jurisdictions, including the wrap around supports that can support those who wish to utilise the scheme.