APG meets to discuss draft terms of reference for public health inquiry

On Monday (5 December), the All Party Group on Reducing Harm Related to Gambling met to hear from representatives from the Institute of Public Health (IPH) and the Royal College of Psychiatrists (RCPsych), and to discuss the draft terms of reference for the APG’s forthcoming inquiry into public health approaches to gambling-related harm in NI. 

The group heard a presentation from Dr Helen McAvoy, Director of Policy at the IPH. The IPH informs public policy to promote health and wellbeing and reduce health inequalities in Ireland and NI. They submitted evidence to both the APG’s inquiry on the future of gambling regulation in NI, and the Department for Communities consultation on gambling reform and on the Codes of Practice. They have also given evidence to the Joint Committee on Justice during scrutiny of the Gambling Regulation Bill in ROI.

Members then heard a presentation from Professor Gerry Lynch, former Chair of the RCPsych who does clinical work with gambling addiction. The RCPsych has called on the Department of Health and Department of Communities to work together to ensure there is a public health approach to gambling was also engaged in the APG’s inquiry on the future of gambling regulation in NI and in the Department for Communities’ gambling consultation.

Finally, members reviewed the draft terms of reference for the APG’s forthcoming inquiry into public health approaches to gambling-related harm in NI. Members agreed to hold the first oral evidence session in February 2023. A schedule of evidence sessions will be circulated closer to the time. The call for written evidence will open on Tuesday, 13 December 2022, and close on Friday, 3 February 2023.

To watch Monday's session in full, click here.