I support the amendment of Senators Gavan and Warfield, in particular on there being at least one member on the board with lived experience of harmful gambling behaviours. The Minister and I have long discussed lived experience in this context and I have spoken at length in this House about the lived experience of people who have gone through gambling addiction. That experience has got to form part of any board when we are talking about gambling harm reduction into the future. Sinn Féin has brought forward an apt a…

I move amendment No. 116: In page 56, between lines 26 and 27, to insert the following: “ Prohibition of advertising 67 . (1) A person shall not advertise gambling, or cause gambling to be advertised. (2) A person who contravenes subsection (1) is guilty of an offence and is liable— (a) on summary conviction, to a class A fine, or imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months, or both, or (b) on conviction on indictment, to a fine not exceeding €250,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years, or bo…

I thank the Minister of State. While I welcome the work of the Minister of State on the watershed to 9 o'clock, I disagree with him that we cannot ban gambling advertising 24-7 for the same reasons that he has introduced the watershed. I think we can ban gambling advertising 24-7 and I believe that will be something that the regulator will have to look at even within the next year or so because I believe this legislation will see a kickback. The television broadcasting I spoke about and was spoken about by other Me…

I support Senator Clonan's and Senator Martin's contributions. I received a number of phone calls yesterday from very worried families of our brave Defence Forces members. We have to ask Senator Clonan to assure them that they are in our thoughts and prayers. We need to ensure that their safety is paramount at this time. Those brave people serving overseas are foremost in our thoughts today because their families are very concerned about them. I want to raise the issue of an article this morning by Emma O'Kelly, th…

I second the amendment.

I second the amendment.

I second the amendment.

I want to be guided by the Cathaoirleach now because I, too, want to talk about private clubs. We have an amendment in this regard, amendment No. 38, which does not seem to be grouped with any other. I agree with Senator McDowell. If the Cathaoirleach wishes to indulge me or tell me he will have the subject matter brought up somewhere else, he may do so.

Great. Senator McDowell has made many points we totally agree with.

I will talk in the round. I agree with Senator McDowell. He mentioned the report Regulating Gaming in Ireland, published in 2006. Its authors outlined their concerns about private clubs. He mentioned his own amendments. It is time that we regulated the private clubs. When the Minister of State set out with this legislation, he was attempting to do so, but there is still an anomaly with private clubs, their membership and what people can do when they sign up as members. I would welcome the Minister of State's respon…

I am avoiding it as best I can. I am only repeating what Senator McDowell said in his contribution. If he can say it, surely I can, if it is okay with the Cathaoirleach.

I did not repeat any word that was said, if that is okay with Senator Ward.

I wait with bated breath to hear what the Minister of State has to say about private clubs, which have been raised before me by colleagues whom the Cathaoirleach already mentioned. However, it is time that gambling was taken seriously. There was engagement with Senator Lombard on advertising. I have an amendment in this regard, amendment No. 116, which is also not grouped, and I want the direction of the Cathaoirleach on whether we are going to discuss the advertising of gambling now. I agree 100% with Senator Lomb…

I support Senator Ruane and Senator Gavan in this. I am aware of and have been contacted by many parents whose credit card details have been used. I know we are banning the use of credit cards for gambling in this Bill but we are not actually mentioning loot boxes and the effects they are having. Many parents have contacted me - and I am sure other Members of this House - whose credit card bills have risen due to loot boxes being used. The previous two speakers made an important contribution on their inclusion in t…

Does the Minister of State wish to respond?

Amendment No. 41 is out of order.

We spoke last night about bread-and-butter issues in our work as public representatives. This is another one and I applaud Senator Currie for tabling the amendment. On any tall building in a town or on a roadside or on any tall hill, you will suddenly see a mast now. We are all in favour of telecommunications and note their importance but there is a lack of public consultation. As public representatives, we get almost weekly comments on this when a telecommunications mast suddenly appears. As Senator Carrigy said, …

I want to speak to amendments Nos. 71 and 83. Regarding amendment No. 71, this planning framework needs to take cognisance of the Gaeltacht Act 2012, which requires the Irish language rights to be considered when looking at the overall framework plan. For amendment No. 83, we would require that the Government present any draft or any new or revised national planning framework to the Houses of the Oireachtas and that it would not be published or take effect in the four weeks of that framework being approved by the O…

The Minister has ten minutes to open the debate.

I add my name to the condolences on the late John O'Mahony. Unfortunately, John and his Galway team broke our hearts in 1998 and again in 2000 with his Galway team and the lilywhites defeat in that All-Ireland of 1998. I cannot share the view with Senator Carrigy that that was a good day. Unfortunately, it was not a good day but out of that we gained a lot of respect for John O'Mahony as a GAA coach and that has to be mentioned today. I send my condolences and those of the Labour Party to Gerardine and John's famil…