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I would like to thank the members of the GREF Board for their kind invitation to speak to you today in advance of your conference here in the Gresham Hotel over the next two days. I am pleased that Ireland has been chosen to host this year’s event and I hope that you all enjoy your stay in Dublin.

My Department was delighted to host the pre-conference reception yesterday evening and I hope that this was enjoyed by those who attended.

I appreciate that you have a full programme ahead of you over the next two days, with discussions taking place on a diverse range of topics. I do not, therefore, propose to take up too much of your time as I know you will be anxious to commence your deliberations.

Some of you may be aware that I have only recently taken on the portfolio of Minister for Justice and Equality, having previously held the role of Minister for Children and Youth Affairs in the current Government. Thus I take a particular interest in the protection of young persons and vulnerable groups. I have taken the opportunity presented by your invitation to familiarise myself with the history of GREF and its core aims.

The area of gambling is one that has been, and continues to be, subject to continuous change, particularly in the areas of technology and on-line gambling. I acknowledge that here in Ireland we may not have kept abreast of the many developments in this area and this is something that I am keen to address.

I am encouraged in this context to see that there is a forum where regulators can be brought together to discuss these issues with a view to coming up with approaches on how to keep pace with developments in this evolving area. The opportunity for my officials to be present at this forum is particularly useful for us as a country, as we are currently working on updating our gambling legislation.

I note that Ireland has not participated actively in GREF for the past number of years but I would hope that we will be in a position to take part in a more meaningful manner in years to come. This is something that I will be asking my officials to look into at the appropriate time.

The hosting of this conference in Ireland comes at an opportune time because, as I mentioned earlier, we are currently in the process of updating our laws on gambling. It is clear that our legislation in this area is outdated and not fit for purpose, particularly as it compares to the majority of our European counterparts. It is my intention to remedy this situation at the earliest possible opportunity.

In this regard, I intend to publish legislation early next year that will entirely overhaul our current laws as they relate to gambling. The only exception to this will be the legislation dealing with the National Lottery, which was updated in 2013.

The new legislation will provide for the licensing of on-line gambling for the first time in Ireland, as well as providing for the licensing of “modest” sized casinos. A regulatory body will be established, located within my Department. It will be responsible for the licensing, compliance and enforcement activities as set out in the legislation. I would hope that this legislation will be enacted as soon as possible following its publication.

The protection of minors and other vulnerable persons is one of the core principles underpinning the legislation. In this regard, I am particularly interested in the outcomes of your discussions in the areas of gambling advertising and self-exclusion mechanisms. While recognising that gambling is an activity that is enjoyed by a large number of persons, and that most can do so responsibly, it is vital that appropriate protections are in place for those who need them most.

I am aware of developments at European level in this area. I believe that the European Commission is shortly due to publish Recommendations in the area of gambling advertising and general consumer protection measures. I await publication with great interest.

There are also developments in the money laundering area with the 4th Anti Money Laundering Directive nearing finalisation. The Directive provides for the extension of controls to forms of gambling other than casinos, and this will present great challenges for regulators. My own Department will have a central role to play in this area and I will be monitoring developments closely. I will be very interested in the outcome of your discussions in this area.

I also note the inclusion of a discussion on match-fixing on the conference programme. This is becoming an ever increasing problem for sports governing bodies and gambling regulators. We all know that the issue has been the subject of intense media reporting over the last couple of years with some high profile sports personalities being implicated. I am aware of ongoing discussions at EU level, with a Council of Europe Convention against the manipulation of sporting competitions being drafted.

My Department’s legislation attempts to deal with this issue and the provisions contained therein were arrived at as a result of drawing on experiences in other states in dealing with this issue. However, I am aware that this is an area that will require constant vigilance and the discussions you have at this conference will be very informative.

In conclusion, I would like to thank the Board again for their kind invitation to speak to you here today. I wish you every success in your endeavours over the next two days and I look forward to receipt of the report of the conference in due course. Finally, I hope you all enjoy your stay here in Dublin – it may even encourage you to see a bit more of our country. I wish you all a safe journey home at the conclusion of the conference.

THANK YOU.