The Minister is correct about one thing, that there is a lot of confusion about this, not only about the ads that may be in general newspapers or newspapers specifically geared towards people who may place a bet. I have even received queries about offering a cup of tea in a bingo hall. Is that an inducement? Would it be prohibited? It is important to get this right. Before the Bill reaches the Seanad, would the Minister make the proposed regulations available or are they available already so that we could have a lo…

Will the regulations be available? When will they be available? If there were, for example, inducements or a free bet advertised in the Racing Post , would that be interpreted as targeting a particular type of person in that it would be a person who is interested in gambling?

I move amendment No. 4: In page 18, line 17, after “raffle” to insert “, a quiz featuring an element of chance”.

I will speak to amendment No. 11. It proposes that the Act should not apply to gambling activities, including a game or lotto, carried on by or on behalf of any organisation that is a registered charitable organisation under the meaning of the Charities Act and: that has a charitable or philanthropic purpose, which shall be construed in accordance with section 87(4) , and is designated by the Authority [which will be Údarás Rialála Cearrbhachais na hÉireann] in accordance with subsection (2) . (2) Provided such act…

The need for this Bill is very clear. We want to see regulation. Over the past year or so, we have had many meetings with families whose lives have been affected by gambling, bingo halls and all sorts of stakeholders. The scale and reach of gambling companies is driving the vast majority of gambling home and it needs to be tackled. There are amendments coming in respect of credit card gambling, putting people with lived experience of gambling on the board of the regulator and tightened risk assessments. I want to t…

I want to make only one point, relating to the lotteries of GAA clubs. It is preposterous to say that, at odds of about 36,000 to one, all the gamblers with addiction problems start flocking in-----

The Minister of State is deliberately misconstruing and misinterpreting what I said in that regard. It is obvious that within a community, if there is a higher prize, people will come together and spend their €2 or get three tickets for €5 to enter that lottery, but it is preposterous to say it is people with a gambling addiction who buy in to that.

I move amendment No. 17: In page 25, between lines 9 and 10, to insert the following: “(4) In appointing the members of the Authority, the Minister shall have regard to the objective of there being no fewer than 1 member with lived personal experience of harmful gambling behaviours. (5) In appointing the members of the Authority, the Minister shall have regard to the importance of an independent Authority and attempt to ensure that no more than 2 members have recent (within the past 5 years) paid employment with an…

I move amendment No. 25: In page 38, between lines 8 and 9, to insert the following: “Authority subject to Freedom of Information 34. The Authority shall be subject to section 6 of the Freedom of Information Act 2014.”. This amendment makes the authority, Údarás Rialála Cearrbhachais na hÉireann, subject to the Freedom of Information Act. We are not sure whether this will automatically happen. The Minister may be able to shed some light on that. It would emphasise the importance of transparency in relation to this …

I move amendment No. 26: In page 48, between lines 22 and 23, to insert the following: “(4) The contributions to the Social Impact Fund under subsection (3) shall be calculated having regard to - (a) the size of licence holders’ operations, (b) the gambling services and activities being offered by licence holders, (c) the potential harm/risk associated with the gambling services and activities offered by licence holders, (d) the percentage of turnover spent by the licence holder on advertising and promotion, (e) li…

The Minister of State said there is no call arising out of the display of the betting company’s name. If there was, for example, a Paddy Power comedy festival, as there was last year, would that be governed by this, would it be included or would it fall foul of the difficulties here?

I commend the families of the Stardust fire on their long and courageous battle for justice in the face of opposition, denial and then negotiations, not just the cold shoulder. That includes Marie Hogan, now Griffin, who did in fact move to County Kerry and who gave crucial evidence at the inquest. The families achieved a stunning victory in establishing the inquest initially and then obtaining a finding of unlawful killing based on the facts presented. Families have been dignified, organised and articulate and man…

Deputy Haughey made reference to the Kerry babies case and to the apology that was given after 40 years. However, the apology was worded so that it was unclear exactly what the State was apologising for. Questions still remain to be answered. It has never been explained how five of the same statements which dovetailed were made in five different rooms about an event that science deems could not possibly be true. The family of Captain James Kelly has been waiting for an apology for more than 50 years. Their attempts…

My question to the Minister pertains to the built heritage of Tralee town courts service and the future of business in Tralee town centre. Will the Minister provide an update on the upgrading plans, if there are any, for Tralee Courthouse or court facilities?

I thank the Minister for the reply. The Minister is absolutely correct to say there only two courtrooms in the current building and the plans they have are for four. There has been a big development recently in that An Post has recently obtained planning permission for a sorting depot on the outskirts of Tralee town. All along when we were asking for improved facilities on the existing site, we were being told that it was shoehorned into a particular place, there were no facilities for expansion and that was the en…

There are two points arising out of the Minister's answer. The first point is the budget for a new courthouse is about €18 million. The Minister referred to €160,000. That is a very small fraction. The second point is that the Minister mentioned the Island of Geese, which is the old Denny factory site right in the centre of town where it is proposed to put the new court building. That was gifted to Tralee Town Council back in 2014. Big plans were made for social housing and for a community centre. There were some 1…

If it was up for sale?

Will there be any changes to the number of trainees or the training model proposed? Could the Minister let me know the projected number of trainees who will begin in Templemore for Garda training in this calendar year?

I hear what the Minister is saying with regard to approaching the figure of 15,000. As the Minister knows, the Joint Committee on Justice went to Templemore. Apart from the number attesting, there are about 140 postgraduates undertaking courses there. It has been mentioned to me in passing that Templemore is stuck for space and it is seeking to obtain other venues to carry out more specialised training. Has the college ever considered, in order to accelerate the numbers in a quicker way, opening up another training…

What is coming down the tracks is that the large cohort of gardaí who attested in the early 1990s will be coming to the end of their natural cycle of employment. There are also the resignations and other retirements that are coming up. It is difficult when the maximum going through is 600 to 700 this year and was 700 last year. The increase to 15,000 may be on the horizon but to increase it more in order to keep pace with the level of population increase is going to be very difficult for any government to achieve. …