Next Tuesday.

I join with everyone's comments on the positive nature of the Bill before us. It is extremely welcome. While I want to focus on the positivity of one part of the Bill, and I am very glad it has been given the priority it needs, it is very difficult to weigh it up and give it the credit it deserves because I must also acknowledge the absence of reference to the NDAs which also affect maternity leave. NDAs have been used in the past to cover up getting rid of women while they have been on maternity leave, which is ob…

I move amendment No. 1: In page 23, between lines 22 and 23, to insert the following: “(b) a personal gaming device or console,”.

A lot of the discussion has previously happened on Committee Stage but some of the amendments we have brought forward to Report Stage are ones we felt we could not really let go of at the last Stage of debate. The Minister of State stated he would come back on amendment No. 1 and that he would consider our amendment. I hope that he can accept this amendment today as he did indicate an interest in addressing it on the previous Stage. The amendment includes a "gaming device" in the definition of remote devices that m…

That was essentially a similar answer to the one given last week. I do not believe that gaming consoles are completely covered by the word "Internet". As it currently stands, people can access and be exposed to such things as advertisements while they are offline. I do not know whether anyone has tried to play a game while up in the air in an aeroplane. They would still see advertisements come up in those games if they do not subscribe to them. The word "Internet" does not actually capture all the ways people can b…

I move amendment No. 3: In page 27, between lines 32 and 33, to insert the following: “(b) to take measures to reduce or eliminate compulsive or excessive gambling,”

Amendment No. 3 would ensure the authority must, as part of its function, take steps to reduce problem gambling. We have listened to the Minister of State and have taken on board his views about the intention of the authority to reduce gambling harm and believe this amendment would strengthen that intention and make it very clear that the authority exists to try to eliminate problem gambling in our society. It would be a missed opportunity not to include this as part of the functions of the authority. While the Min…

I move amendment No. 4: In page 28, line 18, after "activities", to insert ", including the harms associated with compulsive and excessive gambling".

I move amendment No. 5: In page 28, line 23, after "activities,", to insert "including research into emerging industry trends and technologies,".

I move amendment No. 6: In page 29, between lines 25 and 26, to insert the following: “(e) personal data processing and the principles of data protection,”.

I move amendment No.7: In page 39, between lines 21 and 22, to insert the following: “(c) the prevalence of illegal or unregulated gambling, including by children;”.

I move amendment No. 8: In page 40, between lines 9 and 10, to insert the following: “(3) The Authority shall keep under review certain activities by non-licensees, which, while not constituting gambling activity, may operate in manner sufficiently similar and constitute sufficiently similar risk as gambling activity, and may, from time to time, prepare a report of any findings and set out such recommendations as it considers appropriate.”.

This amendment seeks to insert a new subsection which would charge the Gambling Authority with reviewing gambling-like activities which may need to be regulated in the future. With this amendment we are thinking of things like cryptocurrency and trade in speculative investments which are not technically gambling but do look and behave a bit like gambling. The Gambling Commission in the UK has researched emerging trends in gambling-like activity and found that there are close links between problem gambling and risky…

I move amendment No. 9: In page 41, between lines 9 and 10, to insert the following: “(g) the Health Service Executive,”.

These amendments seek to add two persons whom the authority may enter into an information-sharing agreement with in the performance of its functions. In amendment No. 9, we are seeking the inclusion of the HSE. As we highlighted on Committee Stage, we believe that there should be a capacity for the authority to share information with the HSE. By framing gambling harm through a public health lens, we can begin to understand the adverse impacts of gambling on the health and well-being of individuals, families, commun…

I move amendment No. 10: In page 41, between lines 9 and 10, to insert the following: “(g) the Central Bank,”.

I move amendment No. 11: In page 45, after line 34, to insert the following: “(4) The Authority may cause licensees who compile, or seek to compile through third party service providers, data profiles the purposes of inviting or retaining participants and prospective participants, to erase all tracked data in relation to a participant if so requested.”

On amendments Nos. 11 and 12, section 45 sets out the way in which the new exclusion register will work. Amendments Nos. 11 and 12 relate to improving data protection and upholding a person's right to privacy under this Bill. Amendment No.11 proposes to bestow a new power on the authority that would mean it would request gambling companies to delete the personal data of their customers that they have stored. It is important that when someone is on the exclusion register, any data stored by the companies the person …

I move amendment No. 12: In page 47, between lines 23 and 24, to insert the following: “(b) collect, collate or process personal data in respect of the person,”.

I move amendment No. 15: In page 83, between lines 10 and 11, to insert the following: “(c) a statement setting out the measures taken by the licensee to ensure compliance with data protection law, in addition to the steps taken to mitigate the potential for algorithmic harm to participants,”.