Inquiry into public health approaches to tackling gambling-related harm: 7th oral evidence session

Topic: Examining the wider social impacts of gambling

Date: Tuesday 23 May 2023

Time: 12:00pm

Location: Room 21 and Zoom

Chairperson: Robbie Butler MLA

Minutes taken by: James Mayne, Chambré

Members Present

·        Robbie Butler MLA

·        Danny Donnelly MLA

·        David Honeyford MLA

Apologies

·        Philip McGuigan MLA

Secretariat

·        James Mayne - Chambré

·        Rohan Boyle - Chambré

External Guests

In Person

·        Kate Harrison – Extern Problem Gambling

·        Emer Boyle – Assembly Clerk

Virtual

·        Barry Grant – Extern Problem Gambling

·        Sharon Collard – University of Bristol

·        Maura Brown – Dunlewey Addiction Services

·        Kev Clelland - YGAM

·        Charles Ritchie – Gambling with Lives

·        Fiona Geary - Dunlewey Addiction Services

·        Thomas McKeever – Royal College of Psychiatrist

·        Mark McQuade - Assembly Education Committee

·        Ciarán Mee – Department for Communities

·        Debbie Sharpe – Department of Health

·        Scott Taylor – Department of Health

·        Diane Owens – CCEA

·        Lynne Hackworth – Department of Education

·        Dr Sharon McElroy - British Psychology Society

Minutes

1.      Welcome

Robbie Butler MLA welcomed members to the meeting.

2.      Minutes of last meeting

Members agreed that the minutes of the last meeting (24 April) were a true and accurate representation of that meeting. This was proposed by  Danny Donnelly MLA and seconded by David Honeyford MLA. 

4.      Matters arising

None.

5.      Introductory remarks

The Chairperson opened by recapping the sixth oral evidence session on the APG’s inquiry, members heard from Professor Henrietta-Bowden Jones and Dr Donna Mullen, representing the Royal College of Psychiatrists and Dr Sharon McElroy, representing the British Psychology Society. They discussed the resourcing and provision of gambling treatment services in England and Northern Ireland.

6.      Inquiry into public health approaches to gambling-related harms in NI: 7th oral evidence session - The impact of gambling on health and wellbeing:

The following presented:

Barry Grant – Extern Problem Gambling

Sharon Collard – University of Bristol

The witnesses then took questions from members.

The Chair thanked the speakers for their presentations, and members for their questions.

7.      AOB

None

8.      Next meeting

The next meeting will take place on Monday 19 June at 12:00pm via Zoom.