National gambling strategy
Deputy Chambers asked whether the Government would advance a national gambling strategy alongside the gambling control Bill, citing high levels of addiction. The Minister said gambling addiction causes real harm and he would raise the matter with the Minister of State and revert directly.
I have a question for the Minister for Health, which also relates to the Minister for Justice and Equality. The gambling control Bill is on the draft legislative framework. A report commissioned by Dr. Crystal Fulton proposed a national gambling strategy, under the remit of the Department of Health, with regard to addiction. We have one of the highest rates of addiction and gambling per capita in the world. Will the Minister consider initiating this? According to the Fulton report, it is important that we see progress on a national gambling strategy.
Comment on this
Deputy Chambers raises an important point. Gambling addiction brings real difficulty to so many houses and families throughout the country. My colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Catherine Byrne, is looking at the area of addiction, and I will raise this with her and ask her to revert to the Deputy directly.