Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 4 July 2018
249. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to introduce leglislation to enable problem gamblers to voluntarily self-exclude from locations in which gambling takes place as exists in other jurisdictions (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29519/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy will be aware that, Government, on 10 January, 2018, approved the updating of the 2013 General Scheme of the Gambling Control Bill. The proposed updating follows on from the review work undertaken in the Department of Justice and Equality and consultations with interested stakeholders. Changes to the Scheme will be subject to further consultations with the Office of the Attorney General and other relevant Departments.
The 2013 Scheme included a number of proposals that made provision for the protection of those who engage in gambling activities. Among these proposals was the establishment of a centralised self-exclusion register that would be maintained by the regulatory body proposed under the Scheme.
Allied to this work, and in the context of reviewing and updating the General Scheme in all necessary aspects, a Working Group, chaired by myself, comprising all stakeholder Departments, relevant Offices and the Office of the Attorney General has been meeting since February 2018. I expect the Group to submit its report to Government in early Autumn, with work on a revised General Scheme to follow thereafter.
My officials have engaged with counterparts in other EU jurisdictions where self exclusion measures are in place, with a view to the possible development of a proposal that would be feasible in an Irish context. However, I have to report that the creation, maintenance and effectiveness of such registers, even in jurisdictions where national identity cards are mandatory, has not necessarily been as effective as would have been hoped.
In Ireland, where we have over 800 bookmaker shops and significant on-course betting, the difficulties in enforcing the exclusion - self or otherwise - of any person would be difficult, particularly in the absence of an identity requirement via some form of authorised identity document.
Self-exclusion registers are likely to work best where the person concerned is gambling wholly on-line. However, it is common for gamblers to have multiple accounts with different operators.
You will appreciate the critical requirement of adherence to data protection legislation when developing proposals in this area.
One final point that is worth making is that no self-exclusion scheme is likely to work where the person concerned is not committed to their exclusion from gambling activities.
