15 April 2021 RHRG APG Meeting Minutes

Minutes - RHRG APG Inquiry session 9

Topic: Gambling policymakers ROI
Date: Thursday, 15 April 2021 
Time: 1:15pm  
Location: Virtual Meeting via Zoom platform  
Chairperson: Robbie Butler MLA
Minute taker: Megan McDermott, Chambré

Members Present
Robbie Butler MLA (RB)
Paula Bradley MLA
Philip McGuigan MLA 
Jim Wells MLA

Apologies
David Hilditch MLA
Paula Bradshaw MLA

External guests
Charles Ritchie, Gambling with Lives (GwL)
David Stanton TD
James Mayne, Chambré
Laoiseach Scullion, Chambré
Leanne Thompson, Department of Health
Martina Campbell, Department for Communities (DfC)
Megan McDermott, Chambré
Mhairi Kernaghan, DfC
Peter Keogh, GwL
Rebecca Stevenson , CARE NI
Will Chambré, Chambré

Welcome
RB opened the meeting and advised attendees that the session would be recorded.

Minutes of last meeting
It was agreed that the minutes gave a true and accurate reflection of the last meeting of the group held on 25 March.

Matters arising
None

Oral evidence from:

• David Stanton TD (Fine Gael TD, Cork East). Minister of State at the Department of Justice and Equality from 2016 to 2020. As part of this role he was responsible for leading the Government’s efforts to come up with options to modernise the regulation of the gambling sector, including proposals for the establishment of a national gambling regulatory authority.
  
  

Actions

• It was agreed that Deputy Stanton would provide the APG with estimated figures on the levy percentage and annual funded needed to address gambling harm in ROI via a proposed Social Fund, once available.

Questions
Witnesses took questions from members

AOB
None

Next meeting
RB informed members that the next meeting will be confirmed by the secretariat in the coming days.