14 January 2021 RHRG APG Meeting Minutes
Minutes - RHRG APG Inquiry Session 4
Topic: A public health approach to gambling
Date: Thursday 14th January 2020
Time: 1:30pm
Location: Remote via Zoom
Chairperson: Robbie Butler MLA
Minute taker: Megan McDermott, Chambré
Members Present
Robbie Butler MLA (RB)
Philip McGuigan MLA
Jim Wells MLA
Paula Bradley MLA
Paula Bradshaw MLA
Apologies
None
External guests
Barry Grant, Extern
Calvin Reid, Chambré
Charles Ritchie, Gambling with Lives (GwL)
Ciara Reynolds, Institute of Public Health Institute of Public Health (IPH)
Ciarán Mee, Department for Communities (DfC)
Donna Mullen, Royal College of Psychiatrists
Dr Heather Wardle, University of Glasgow
Dr Helen McEvoy, IPH
Dr Joanna Purdy, IPH
Leanne Thompson, Department of Health
Martin Grant, IPH
Martina Campbell, DfC
Megan McDermott, Chambré
Mhairi Kernaghan, DfC
Neil Goodwin, Office of the Mental Health Champion
Peter Keogh, GwL
Roisin Smith
Sadie Keogh, GwL
Suzanne Costello, IPH
Tim Martin, 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 10 December.
Matters arising
None
Mental Health Strategy
RB alerted members that the secretariat will be producing a response to the Department of Health’s 10-year Mental Health Strategy on behalf of the APG. This will be circulated to members for approval and feedback in the coming weeks.
Oral evidence from public health groups and researchers
Witnesses:
● Dr Helen McAvoy, Director of Policy at the Institute of Public Health; Dr Joanna Purdy, Public Health Development Officer at the Institute of Public Health.
● Dr Heather Wardle, researcher with University of Glasgow and Head of the Gambling and Place research hub
Questions
Witnesses took questions from members
Actions
It was agreed that the APG would look at establishing the financial cost of problem gambling to society in NI.
It was agreed that the APG would seek a breakdown of the gross gambling yield made by the gambling operators from Northern Ireland consumers, in line with information currently available to the public on the profits made by operators from customers in GB.
AOB
None
Next meeting
RB informed members that the next meeting will be held on Thursday, 28 January at 1:30. It will hear from the local (non-remote) gambling sector in Norther Ireland.