Inquiry into public health approaches to tackling gambling-related harm: 9th oral evidence session
Topic: Children and Gambling
Date: Tuesday 19 September 2023
Time: 12:00pm
Location: Committee Room 29, Parliament Buildings
Chairperson: Philip McGuigan
Minutes taken by: Dara Keeve, Chambré
Members Present
Danny Donnelly MLA
David Honeyford MLA
Maolíosa McHugh MLA
Philip McGuigan MLA
Apologies
Robbie Butler MLA
Nick Mathison MLA
Secretariat
James Mayne - Chambré
Dara Keeve- Chambré
Will Chambré - Chambré
External Guests
In person
Emer Boyle – Assembly Committee for Communities
Bill Manwaring – Andy Allen MLA’s Office
Erin Larmour - Robbie Butler MLA’s Office
Robin Sheeran - David Honeyford MLA’s Office
Online
Tunde Adebisi - Ulster University
Tuğçe Bidav - National University of Ireland Maynooth
Tim Cairns - CARE
Barry Grant - Extern
Kate Harrison - Extern
Sharon Hughes - Education Authority
Martin Jones
Peter Keogh - Gambling with Lives
Mhairi Kernaghan - Department for Communities
Ciaran Mee – Department for Communities
Noeleen McGreer - CCEA
Thomas McKeever – Royal College of Psychiatrists
Mark McQuade – Assembly Committee for Education
Steve Mulligan - British Association for Counsellors and Psychotherapists
Debbie Sharpe - Department of Health
Scott Taylor - Department of Health
Minutes
1. Welcome
Philip McGuigan MLA welcomed members to the meeting.
2. Minutes of last meeting
Minutes for the previous meetings (19 June and 23 May) were proposed by Danny Donnelly MLA and seconded by Maolíosa McHugh MLA.
4. Matters arising
None.
5. Introductory remarks
The Chairperson opened by recapping the eighth oral evidence session on the APG’s inquiry, when members heard from Marguerite Regan, Department for Health & Social Care, Paul Kitchin, Ulster University, and Oscar Donnely, Northern Health and Social Care Trust. They discussed the impact of gambling on health and wellbeing.
6. Inquiry into public health approaches to gambling-related harms in NI: 9th oral evidence session - Gambling and Children:
The following presented:
- Dr Helen McAvoy – Director of Policy, Institute of Public Health, Director of Policy
- Dr Ciara Reynolds – Public Health Development Officer, Institute of Public Health
The witnesses then took questions from members.
The Chair thanked the speakers for their presentations, and members for their questions.
7. Background briefing on GamCare services for young people
Presentation:
- Ciarán McGinley, Participation Manager
8. AOB
The Chair proposed that the secretariat collate the gambling services that are available in NI and write to Neil Gibson, Permanent Secretary to the Department of Finance, to ensure that all available gambling support services are included on NI Direct’s website. This action was agreed by members.
9. Next meeting
The next meeting will be held on October 2 October from 12:00 – 1:00pm in Room 30. The group will hear from Erin McEvoy, Research Associate in Gambling Studies at Ulster University, on gambling advertising and promotion.