Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 June 2015
332. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to set out his views on any lobbying he has received in respect of the Gambling Control Bill 2013; if he will identify and list all parties who have made representations to him on this Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25162/15]
View answerThe Heads of the Gambling Control Bill were presented to Government by the then Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence, Alan Shatter TD in 2013 and were approved by Government in July 2013. The Gambling Control Bill 2013 will repeal and replace all existing arrangements for the regulation of betting, gaming, bingo and lotteries (except for the National Lottery). It extends the licensing regime to include on-line and electronic gambling. The Bill also sets out the arrangements for the licensing and supervision of casinos. The Bill is currently being drafted in the Attorney General's Office.
I and my colleague Minister of State Hayes have met with representatives from various organisations in the course of 2012 and 2013 to discuss the implications of the Gambling Control Bill. Among those that my Department has received representations from in this regard are Horse Racing Ireland, Bord na gCon, Irish Bookmakers Association, Betfair, Ladbrokes and Boyle Sports.
