*The matter was debated at the December meeting of Clare County Council.
CLARE’S sole Green Party member on the local authority has led the call for a redistribution of the gambling levy towards social projects.
Following a motion by Cllr Liam Grant (GP), Clare County Council are to write to the Department of Justice and Minister of State James Browne (FF) asking them to enact the Gambling Regulation Bill “as soon as possible”.
Cllr Grant outlined, “There’s a lot of people around the country suffering with gambling addiction and this legislation needs to be brought forward to safeguard persons participating in gambling. So many people’s lives have been harmed from gambling, it needs to be regulated”.
“I’m also calling for the redistribution of the gambling levy into social projects including the creation of a social impact fund to finance initiatives aimed at reducing problem gambling. Since 2001, €1.5 billion has been given to horse and greyhound racing from this levy. These industries are well able to support themselves and this funding needs to go towards more worthy causes,” he added.
Speaking on Monday, the Lahinch representative quoted research from the ESRI which detailed that one in thirty people have a gambling addiction in Ireland. “It is a huge amount which is growing year on year, we need to regulate the industry, there is a lot of issues around it, trying to safeguard it would be great, we need proper regulation to just protect people”. According to Cllr Grant, the gambling levy is “one of the most bizarre taxes in the country”.
Gambling is more prevalent than ever, he flagged. “People have Paddy Power in their pocket, they are going to the pub and getting notifications while watching a soccer match. I’ve no problem with people going to the races and having run but I do have a problem with people throwing their life away”.
Seconding the proposal, Cllr Tom O’Callaghan (FF) commented, “It is a worry because it is there 24/7. It is a big problem out there”.
Words of Oscar Wilde were referenced by Cllr Joe Killeen who said, “We can resist everything but temptation”. A former primary school principal, he spoke of a case in the country where a teacher gambled away the laptops belonging to a school and put his job “in jeopardy” because of his addiction. He acknowledged that Ireland is “a world-leader” in the horse racing industry, “it is a huge employer, it brings finance from all over the world”.
“Young people are exposed to all-forms of gambling advertising online, we’ve one of the highest amount of problem gamblers for 15-16 year olds in Europe,” stated Cllr Donna McGettigan (SF).
Analysis of the Lobbying Register shows more than 60 entries up to October of this year connected to the Gambling Regulation Bill, with around half of these being direct lobbying of Junior Minister Browne who is spearheading the legislation.
As well as all the main bookmakers and horse racing industry representatives, numerous charities have also written to and held meetings with Mr Browne in relation to concerns they have over the impact of the new legislation on their fundraising activities.
