Amendment No. 148 is word for word, including grammar, identical to Senator Ward's amendment that we just discussed but I will respond to what Senator Dooley has said. The thrust of the Bill is not to regulate solely children or problem gamblers. It is to regulate the entire gambling industry in the country. This needs to be made very clear here today. This is why the Bill is very big. It is because it is regulating the entire gambling industry. Amendment No. 148 seeks to exempt anybody with a broadcasting licence …

I will speak to amendments Nos. 150, 153 and 154 initially as they concern matters to do with applications for a licence. The Bill as published prohibits the presence of children on premises with facilities to withdraw cash on licensees' premises. While this is appropriate for the vast majority of premises where gambling is offered from, it is not practical to apply them to all premises. Many venues that operate gambling activities at certain times, such as stadiums, racetracks and other similar premises, also offe…

I agree with the Senator that gambling addiction is not very different in some ways from other addictions. It is not about winning money; it is about people trying to self-medicate, get a sense of self-worth or whatever the case may be. If a gambling addict wins €10 million today, they will gamble every penny of it away again because it is nothing to do with actual money. It is an addiction that is quite difficult to address because it can very often be hidden. Not to diminish alcohol addiction, for example, but in…

Amendments Nos. 170, 171 and 173 provide that when assessing whether a premises is suitable to provide gambling activities from, the authority shall consider any information provided under section 95(1)(a) as part of an application and must consult with the local authority where the premises are situated, must consult with the relevant fire safety authority, and must inspect the premises before making a determination for an in-person gambling licence. Amendment No. 174 provides that in the case of Limerick City and…

I certainly understand the import of Senator Ruane's proposed amendment. It would make the situation totally impracticable if all of those separate, albeit important, areas were included in the legislation. A regulator has wider powers other than simply taking into account schools. In response to Senator McDowell, we have had this extensive discussion on the previous occasion. I fundamentally disagree with the Senator's position that this will enable gambling. It will bring a more coherent approach to gambling in t…

Amendment No. 177 is a technical amendment to section 97 to refer to the correct renumbered subsections 93(1) and 99(1), respectively, as is amendment No. 180, which removes redundant language from section 97(1)(b) which is already set out in the obligations concerning the national gambling exclusion register. Regrettably, I cannot accept amendments Nos. 178, 179, 181 and 182 in the names of Senators Ruane and Higgins. Regarding amendment No. 178, I am satisfied with section 97 as drafted. The Senators’ amendment w…

I certainly hear the Senator's concerns. I agree with her concerns about developments in technology, including algorithms. Under section 32, there is an obligation on the authority to monitor and review the implementation of the Act, including the adequacy of the functions assigned to the authority and national and international developments in gambling and gambling activities and the regulation of such activities. The authority may also consider existing and emerging practices in gambling and gambling activities, …

I advise the House that I may introduce some minor amendments to the Bill on Report Stage to address any remaining technical issues and corrections. I may need to bring further amendments to provide for consequential amendments to other Departments' legislation and related matters. Amendment No. 200 clarifies that a person may make an application to hold a once-off lottery in each calendar year. Amendment No. 201 specifies that an application must be made at least 30 days before the date on which it is proposed to …

I hear both Senators' comments. I will certainly give it further consideration. As I said, the amendment here proposes a reduction from 60 days to 30 days. I am not necessarily against a shorter period being available. Of course, there are the fallback sections within the legislation that allow the regulator to make representations to the Minister to have any amendments that are necessary by way of statutory instrument. It is an important part of this legislation that we have tried to give the authority the adminis…

These amendments relate to charitable or philanthropic licences. Amendment No. 214 clarifies that a person may make an application to hold a once-off lottery in each calendar year. Amendment No. 215 provides that an applicant must specify the date on which they intend to hold the lottery. Amendment No. 216 specifies that a person wishing to hold a once-off lottery must apply for a licence at least 30 days before the date on which it is proposed to hold the lottery, rather than 60 days as was originally provided by …

It is not defined within the legislation. It is carried over from the previous piece of legislation. It is in the one that was brought forward and passed by the then Minister of State, Deputy David Stanton. Philanthropic is wider than simply sports organisations. It would include other types of organisations as well. Charitable is specifically mentioned, and then philanthropic, so it could be a sporting organisation but it could be, for example, a community group raising funds for a local community centre or someth…

Amendment No. 234 deletes section 125(g). This paragraph is no longer needed in the Bill due to the changes to the application process and assessment of premise provisions for a charitable or philanthropic licence. Amendment No. 235 amends section 126 to provide that where an applicant provides information to the authority pursuant to section 95 or seeks to add additional premises to their licence under the new section 111, the licensee is obliged to notify the authority of any changes specified under subsection 2 …

Section 138 provides the authority to make regulations to address advertising by specific types of licensees on specific media, such as television, radio and on-demand media services, on social media and video-sharing services, on websites, on apps and in print, and advertising at specific places or events, having regard to the nature and format of individual media. Amendments Nos. 244 to 249, inclusive, are drafting changes recommended by the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel to make the section clearer and ling…

Regarding the inclusion of the words "video games", we are satisfied that the current drafting would include anything that may be on a video game relating to gambling, but I will certainly undertake to the Senator to give it further consideration to ensure we are satisfied on the point. On the charity and sporting sector exemptions around advertising, the joint Oireachtas committee was clear at pre-legislative scrutiny that there should not be exemptions for charity or philanthropic purposes. It was discussed by th…

Amendment No. 262 inserts a new section 151 into the Bill to put an obligation on all licensees to not unreasonably withhold a payment of winnings. Unfortunately, I cannot accept amendment No. 263 in the names of Senators Ruane and Higgins as the matter is sufficiently addressed by sections 157 and 158 which oblige licensees to train their staff to an authority approved standard on these issues. I will respond together to amendments Nos. 264 to 266, inclusive, tabled by the Labour Party, Senators Ruane and Higgins …

Will the Senator give me time to respond?

The only person who should be ashamed here this evening is Senator McDowell. He has made outrageous allegations against my good name, the officials in the Department of Justice and the Government, effectively accusing people of being bought and paid for with no evidence whatsoever. It is a shameful thing to come in here and make an accusation with zero evidence.

Listen back to your own transcript.

Listen back. Let me respond. I did not interrupt you.

It is absolutely shameful.