Minister O'Callaghan establishes GRAI approves appointment of members as new licencing & regulatory framework for gambling begins
- Foilsithe: 4 Márta 2025
- An t-eolas is déanaí: 10 Márta 2025
The Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan has today (Tuesday) signed the order to commence parts of the Gambling Regulation Act 2024 to enable the Authority to become operational and the order to establish Údarás Rialála Cearrbhachais na hÉireann, the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland, on a statutory basis.
Minister O’Callaghan has also approved the appointment of the seven members of this new, independent Authority, who will be appointed and commence their roles with effect from tomorrow, 5 March 2025. They will be the members of the Authority which is responsible for regulating and licencing all gambling providers in the State and which has wide ranging powers to regulate both in-person and online gambling, gaming and most lotteries.
Mr. Paul Quinn has been appointed as chair of the Authority and the other newly appointed members are as follows:
- Ms. Celine Craig
- Ms. Marion Kelly
- Ms. Rita Purcell
- Mr. David Hickson
- Mr. Michael McGrath
- Dr. Colin O’Driscoll
Minister O’Callaghan said:
“Today marks a new era for the regulation of gambling in the Irish State.
“The establishment of the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland is a further step towards replacing Ireland’s outdated gambling laws with a streamlined and simplified licensing framework, which will reflect the nature of modern gambling and take into account the harms associated with problem gambling, providing safeguards to protect people from those harms, especially children.
“It is designed to meet the challenges of gambling responsibly in 21st century Ireland, providing clarity for operators and for consumers and taking a responsible approach to balancing the freedom to gamble with the safeguards to protect people from falling prey to addiction.
“I want to take this opportunity to acknowledge the hard work of my predecessor, Minister Helen McEntee and Minister James Browne, in the development of this legislation.”
Minister O’Callaghan added:
“I warmly congratulate Mr. Paul Quinn on his appointment as Chair of the new Authority and each of the newly appointed Authority members and wish them well in their new roles.
“The newly appointed members will now join CEO Anne-Marie Caulfield and her staff in commencing the Authority’s operations and legislative powers, on a phased basis. I understand that this includes, as a priority, work on progressing the licensing process, with a view to inviting applications for some licence types within the coming year.”
In accordance with the provisions of section 17 of the 2024 Act, appointments to the Authority will be for an initial period of three or four years. All members of the Authority may be reappointed for a second four-year term.
Speaking this morning, Minister Browne stated:
“Minister O’Callaghan’s actions today mark the culmination of much hard work and dedication by Minister McEntee, Ms. Caulfield, Minister O’Callaghan and myself, supported by a core team of Authority staff and departmental officials.
“I am pleased and encouraged at this government’s commitment to continuing the phased commencement of the Authority’s operations and legislative powers as a priority.”
Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill commented:
“I welcome today’s development as an important step towards ensuring that the harms associated with gambling are minimised. I look forward to the Department of Health working with the Gambling Regulatory Authority on initiatives to promote and progress this important goal.”
Welcoming the establishment of the Authority and the appointment of its members, the CEO of the GRAI Anne-Marie Caulfield said:
"I greatly welcome the appointment of the seven-member Authority and the establishment of Údarás Rialála Cearrbhachais na hÉireann. I would like to thank the Ministers, Oireachtas members, the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel and Department of Justice officials for their work in bringing about our establishment.
“I look forward to fulfilling our mandate and delivering a safe, well-regulated and transparent sector, with consumer protection at its core.”
Notes
Background
The Gambling Regulation Act 2024, enacted on October 23 2024, provides for the establishment of Údarás Rialála Cearrbhachais na hÉireann, the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI) for the purposes of licensing and regulating betting, gaming, certain lotteries, the sale or supply of products or services related to gambling and charitable / philanthropic gambling activities.
The GRAI will have responsibility for the licencing and regulation of Gambling:
- betting (on site and online)
- gaming (on site and online)
- both Business to Consumer (B2C) and Business to Business (B2B)
- lotteries (except the National Lottery), including for Charities/Sporting Organisations
Today’s announcement
The Minister for Justice has signed the first Commencement Order bringing into force the first provisions of the 2024 Act, thus allowing the Authority to become operational. 5 March 2025 is the establishment day for the Authority.
The Minister has also approved the appointment of seven members of the Authority, under Section 14 of the 2024 Act. They will be formally appointed tomorrow, 5 March 2025.
The Authority will consist of six members and a Chairperson. In accordance with the provisions of section 17 of the 2024 Act, appointments to the Authority will be for an initial period of three or four years. All members of the Authority may be reappointed for a second four-year term.
A CEO Designate for the Authority, Ms Anne Marie Caulfield, has been in place since September 2022 supplemented by a core of administrative and specialist staff charged with responsibility for putting the structures in place necessary to allow the first sections of the Act to be commenced.
Summary professional biographical details of the Chair and members of the Authority
Paul Quinn, Chairperson
Former CEO, Office of Government Procurement at the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform.
Former Director of Group Procurement and Supply Chain Management, Eircom.
Celine Craig
Former Commissioner at Coimisiún na Meán (Media Commission).
Former CEO and holder of a number of senior management posts at the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland.
Marion Kelly
Current CEO and Board Member of the Irish Banking Culture Board, having previously held a number of senior management positions at Bank of Ireland.
Chartered Director and Certified Bank Director.
Rita Purcell
Current Deputy Chief Executive Officer and former Director of Finance, International and Legal, at the Health Products Regulatory Authority.
Previously held senior audit roles within the Irish Dairy Board and Price Waterhouse Coopers.
David Hickson
Current Financial Controller and former Finance Project Manager at the Community Foundation of Ireland.
Former Chair of the Gambling & Leisure Association of Ireland (GLAI).
Michael McGrath
A practising barrister with 25 years’ experience, including as a Senior Counsel since 2016.
Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.
Dr. Colin O’Driscoll
Current Senior Psychologist and Clinical Lead for the HSE’s Mid-West Addiction Services.
Fellow of the Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI), Chartered Counselling Psychologist, Chartered Forensic Psychologist and Chartered Sport, Exercise and Performance Psychologist and Full Member of the Addiction Counsellors of Ireland.