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Dáil
‹ Order of Business

Gambling control Bill

Summary

Deputy Mathews calls for priority legislation to regulate gambling and also renews criticism of NAMA’s transparency. The Taoiseach says the gambling control Bill is due in spring 2016 and notes that NAMA will appear before the Public Accounts Committee.

The gambling control Bill seems to be continually deferred. Paddy Power has taken over Betfair. It is one of the biggest gambling organisations in the world and we have no control over gambling. That is one issue. I ask the Taoiseach make it a priority.

The other issue is that the people of Ireland are losing about €3 billion as a result of what Deputy Wallace spoke about yesterday and last Thursday. The reason is because NAMA is a dark pool into which nobody can look and see how decisions are made. As a result, foreign funds mostly dollar-denominated as per the chairman, Frank Daly - 95% of them - buy cheap euro to buy cheap assets to make profits that go outside Ireland. In this context, €3 billion is twice the figure of €1.5 billion that the Taoiseach is talking about in the budget adjustments for this year

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Seán Barrett An Ceann Comhairle Fine Gael

The Deputy knows he is out of order. There is one piece of legislation. Will the Deputy resume his seat? Other Deputies are waiting and there are only two minutes left.

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There are no Deputies waiting.

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Seán Barrett An Ceann Comhairle Fine Gael

There are. Will the Deputy resume his seat?

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There is a leader of a party.

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Seán Barrett An Ceann Comhairle Fine Gael

There are three of them present.

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They are not interested in making any contribution to the Order of Business.

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Seán Barrett An Ceann Comhairle Fine Gael

How do you know that?

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It is because the Ceann Comhairle leaves me till last.

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Seán Barrett An Ceann Comhairle Fine Gael

No, I did not leave the Deputy until last. When he indicates, I call him.

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Enda Kenny The Taoiseach Fine Gael

The gambling control Bill is due for publication in spring 2016. As the Deputy knows, NAMA is appearing before the Committee of Public Accounts tomorrow.

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