I raise the issue of the scourge of online gambling addiction. People in Ireland spend over €5 billion a year on gambling.

This figure is not verified but that is the minimum figure the experts quote.

Heretofore gambling problems were noticed by friends, other users of bookmakers or even bookmakers or cashiers living in their communities but this model no longer exists. We are facing an online gambling problem of epidemic proportions. It is estimated, through research in other countries because there is not much here, that 10% of all gamblers have full-blown gambling addictions.

Is the Senator calling for a debate on this?

I am.

Any family that has suffered as a result of gambling addiction is all too aware of its traits: depression, serial deception, cheating, theft, financial destruction, broken homes, lost friends and often suicide. Adolescent years have been proved to be formative years and problems, particularly pathological ones, develop during these years. I call on the Minister to address the House and explain why the gambling control Bill was never enacted.

Because it has not been drafted.

There has been a lot of work done on it. Since then bookmakers’ hours have increased. They can open from 7 a.m. until 10 p.m. The Betting (Amendment) Act 2015 was brought in to assist in the provision of licences for online gambling firms. This is a serious issue. It is getting out of control in Ireland and the Minister should address Members and bring forward this Bill as soon as possible.