445. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration when the advertising provisions under the Gambling Regulation Act 2024; namely the provisions relating to advertisements targeting children, will be commenced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67191/25] 

Jim O'Callaghan, Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration: At its heart, the Gambling Regulation Act 2024 is a public health measure aimed at protecting our citizens from gambling harm, including younger people and those more vulnerable in our communities. The Act provides for a number of safeguards to protect people from those harms, such as: 

• Section 149 provides for a watershed prohibiting gambling advertising between 5.30am - 9pm, while separately, section 148 prohibits advertising that portrays gambling as attractive to children; 

• Section 144 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 shown or broadcast and the duration of such advertisements; 

• Section 146 provides that advertising of gambling activities on social media or video-sharing services may only be permitted where a person has an account on a social media or video sharing service and has specifically subscribed to a licensee’s account on that service; 

• Section 151 Act prohibits the manufacture, import for sale in the State, or the sale or supply (including free of charge) of branded clothing or merchandise, by a licensee, that are intended to be worn or used by children; and 

• Section 159 of the Act prohibits a licensee from sponsoring or causing another person to sponsor: 

• an event or part of an event where the majority or participants or attendees are children. 

• an event aimed at children; 

• an organisation, club or team that has children as members; 

• a premises that is used by an organisation, club or team that has children as members; or 

• a public activity that appeals to children. 

The Authority intends to begin its licensing and enforcement functions on a phased basis from early next year. As the Deputy will appreciate, the protections and safeguards provided for in the Act are contingent on licences being issued by the Authority. In that context, the relevant provisions of the Act will be commenced, as appropriate, once the Authority undertakes its licensing functions.