Inquiry into public health approaches to tackling gambling-related harm: Closed session on APG Forward Work Programme

Date: Tuesday 19 March 2024

Time: 1:00pm

Location: Committee Room 30, the Parliament Buildings

Chairperson: Philip McGuigan MLA

Minutes taken by: Emer Haines, Chambré

Members Present

·        Danny Donnelly MLA

·        Robbie Butler MLA

·        David Honeyford MLA

·        Maolíosa McHugh MLA

·        Philip McGuigan MLA

·        William Irwin MLA

·        Justin McNulty MLA

Apologies

·        Paul Frew MLA

·        Diane Forsythe MLA

·        Nick Mathison MLA

·        Stephen Dunne MLA

Secretariat

·        Will Chambré – Chambré

·        Emer Haines – Chambré

·        Grace O’Regan – Chambré

Minutes

1.      Welcome

Philip McGuigan MLA welcomed members to the meeting.

2.      Minutes of last meeting

Members agreed that the minutes of the last meeting (22 January) were a true and accurate representation of that meeting. Proposed by Maolíosa McHugh MLA and seconded by Danny Donnelly MLA.

4.      Matters arising

None.

5.      Introductory remarks

The Chairperson opened by explaining that the purpose of meeting was a closed session to consider and agree the APG’s forward work programme now that 12 month inquiry into public health approaches to tackling gambling related harm is concluded.

6.      Discussion on APG Forward Work Programme

The Chair provided a comprehensive overview of APG activity, outcomes, and proposals for future work, during which members had an opportunity to ask questions and make comments.

Actions:

·        Chair to write to HSC Trusts asking about provision of gambling treatment services.

·        Chair to write again to Education Minister requesting meeting re: making it a statutory requirement for schools to educate pupils on the danger of gambling as part of core curriculum.

·        Secretariat to respond to Communities Committee request for an update on current work of APG.

·        Secretariat to prepare draft Terms of Reference on shorty inquiry into Gambling Codes of Practice provided for in 2022 Act – codes in order of priority 1) protection of children and young people, 2) gaming machines, 3) reverse withdrawals, 4) marketing , 5) gambling securities and credit cards and 6) customer care and problem gambling.

·        Seek support of Westminster APPG and other groups for  NI getting a share of a future statutory levy on gambling operators for research, education and treatment.

·        Secretariat to arrange APG meeting ahead of inquiry report launch to discuss draft report.

·        Invite person(s) with lived experience and expert(s) in gambling disorder/treatment to speak at inquiry report  launch.

·        Invite Westminster APPG Chair Carolyn Harris and  members of the Scottish Parliament and Welsh  Senedd to brief APG.

·        Request briefing from Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland on legislative developments in ROI.

·        Raise issue of data collection at meetings with Executive Ministers.

·        Share correspondence from Executive Ministers with APG members.

7.      AOB

None

8.      Next meeting

The next meeting date to be decided.