570. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Justice the reason that a 24-hour ban on gambling advertising is not being considered under the Gambling Regulations Bill 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58040/22] 

James Browne, Minister of State at the Department of Justice and Equality: The Gambling Regulation Bill 2022 was approved by Government for publication and will be published to this House shortly. The Bill provides for a comprehensive and far reaching set of checks and balances in respect of gambling advertising. The Bill contains provisions to protect children from gambling. 

In particular, the Bill prohibits advertising portraying gambling as attractive to children and advertising that encourages or seeks to exploit a child to gamble. 

Under the Bill it will be a criminal offence for a licensee to sponsor -

(a) an event where the majority of persons attending or competing are children,

(b) an event aimed at children,

(c) an organisation, club or team in which children are members,

(d) a premises that is used by an organisation, club or team in which children are members, or

(e) a public activity that appeals to children 

The Authority will have power to develop codes relating to the prohibition of sponsorship. 

The Bill provides for a watershed prohibiting the broadcast of gambling advertising on television and radio between the hours of 5:30am and 9:00pm. This was on foot of the recommendation of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice as part of the pre-legislative scrutiny process. The Bill does not provide for an outright ban, which may have a disproportionate impact or unintended consequences. 

In addition to the watershed provisions, the Bill provides for a wide ranging power to allow the Authority to prescribe the times, place and events where gambling advertising can be broadcast, displayed or published, and allows the Authority to specify the frequency which advertising can be broadcast, the duration of advertisements, and the volume / amount of advertisements that can be shown.

The Bill includes additional protections address sponsorship and the supply of branded clothing and merchandise by gambling companies. The Bill provides for an offence of manufacturing, selling or supplying clothing or merchandise featuring branding of a gambling licensee/gambling activity aimed at children. This measure includes items that are provided free of charge. 

The obligations on licensees and other persons are enforceable and are tied to sanctions and offences. This will afford greater flexibility in dealing with the complexity of the issues and future developments in relation to the advertising of gambling services and activities rather than a blanket ban.