Committee for Communities
Minutes of Proceedings - Tuesday 14 December 2021
Committee for Communities - Minutes of Proceedings 14 December 2021.pdf (71.91 kb)
Committee for Communities
Minutes of Proceedings
Tuesday 14 December 2021
Meeting Location: Room 30, Parliament Buildings, Belfast
Present:
Ms Kellie Armstrong MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Andy Allen MBE MLA
Mr Paul Frew MLA
Ms Áine Murphy MLA
Present by Video or Teleconference:
Mr Stephen Dunne MLA
Mr Mark Durkan MLA
Ms Ciara Ferguson MLA
Apologies:
Ms Paula Bradley MLA (Chairperson)
Aisling Reilly MLA
In Attendance:
Dr Janice Thompson (Assembly Clerk)
Mr Sean McCann (Assistant Clerk)
Ms Rachel Ashe (Clerical Supervisor)
In Attendance by Video or Teleconference: Ms Antoinette Bowen (Clerical Officer)
The Deputy Chairperson, Kellie Armstrong, assumed the Chair. The meeting began at 9.10 am in public session. The following Members were present at the start of the public session: Kellie Armstrong, Andy Allen, Stephen Dunne and Ciara Ferguson.
1. Apologies
Paula Bradley
Aisling Reilly
Paul Frew joined the meeting at 9.13 am
Mark Durkan joined the meeting at 9.13 am
2. Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action (NICVA) briefing on the Betting, Gaming, Lotteries and Amusements (Amendment) Bill
Áine Murphy joined the meeting at 9.22 am
The Deputy Chairperson welcomed the following representatives to the meeting:
- Seamus McAleavey
- Denise Copeland
The representatives briefed the Committee and participated in a question and answer session with Members.
The Deputy Chairperson thanked the representatives for their attendance.
3. Advice NI briefing on the Betting, Gaming, Lotteries and Amusements (Amendment) Bill
The Deputy Chairperson welcomed the following representatives to the meeting:
- Kevin Higgins
- Charlotte Ahmed
The representatives briefed the Committee and participated in a question and answer session with Members.
Agreed: The representatives agreed to send additional information to Members as requested regarding 11 cases of gambling debts brought to them and to expand on their thoughts on a levy on the gambling industry.
The Deputy Chairperson thanked the representatives for their attendance.
The meeting was adjourned at 10.02 am
The meeting recommenced at 10.06 am
4. Draft Minutes
Agreed: The Committee agreed the minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday 7 December 2021
The meeting was adjourned at 10.08 am to allow witnesses to join.
The meeting recommenced at 10.17 am.
Stephen Dunne left the meeting at 10.17 am.
5. Institute of Public Health in Ireland and NI Public Health Agency joint briefing on the Betting, Gaming, Lotteries and Amusements (Amendment) Bill
Mark Durkan left the meeting at 10.32 am.
The Deputy Chairperson welcomed the following representatives to the meeting:
- Maurice Meehan
- Dr Helen McAvoy
- Dr Joanna Purdy
The representatives briefed the Committee and participated in a question and answer session with Members.
Agreed: The representatives agreed to send the following additional information to the Committee;
- Research on the Statutory Levy in New Zealand and player expenditure data as potential models for Northern Ireland;
- Research papers detailing the correlation between opening hours of betting establishments and gambling-related harm;
- Internet links to new National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines;
- Internet links to the Gambling Prevalence Survey; and
- Information regarding criminal proceedings against any bookmakers in other jurisdictions.
The Deputy Chairperson thanked the representatives for their attendance.
6. Date, Time, and Location of next meeting
The next meeting will be held on Thursday 16 December 2021 in Room 29, Parliament Buildings, at 9.00 am.
The meeting was adjourned at 11.14 am.
Kellie Armstrong MLA
Deputy Chairperson, Committee for Communities
