MINISTER James Browne TD has announced the appointment of Anne Marie Caulfield as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Designate of the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland.
egislation currently being prepared is expected to be published in the autumn to provide for the establishment of the new regulatory authority, which is expected to become operational in 2023.
The Department of Justice has established a Programme Board to oversee the process and to ensure that different work streams are progressed parallel to the legislative process. That work, in combination with the early appointment of a CEO Designate, is aimed at minimising the time between the enactment of the legislation and the date on which the regulator commences operations.
The appointment of Ms Caulfield follows an open, international competition run by the Public Appointments Service.
Commenting on Ms Caulfield’s appointment, Min Browne said he was delighted to make the announcement saying she will bring “a wealth of professional experience and expertise to the role”.
He also highlighted the significance of the appointment of CEO Designate as “an important milestone in the future establishment of the Gambling Regulatory Authority”.
“Greater regulation of the gambling industry in Ireland has long been called for and is a key priority for me as minister,” said Min Browne.
“This is an incredibly important piece of work from a social perspective and will make a real difference in preventing harm to people from problem gambling, but also to ensuring that modern and effective licensing and regulatory measures are in place for the industry,” he added.
“Anne Marie’s preparatory work over the coming months, in parallel with the drafting and passage of the enabling legislation, will ensure that the Regulatory Authority will be ready to hit the ground running upon its establishment.”
Ms Caulfield will work closely with Min Browne’s department to identify staffing and resourcing needs and to develop procedures on how the authority will function once it becomes operational.
Min Browne said Ms Caulfield’s early appointment will bring continuity and leadership for the authority in its formative stages and would benefit it through to commencement of regulatory functions in 2023.
Speaking about her new role Ms Caulfield said it was a great privilege to be appointed to the role.
“Effective and efficient regulation of this sector is crucial and I relish the challenge of putting that framework in place,” she said.
“The authority must be built on a foundation of robust legislation and I welcome the progress to date of the draft Gambling Regulation Bill,” she added.