Gambling Regulation Bill debates a frustrating watch for those within the racing industry

The Gambling Regulation Bill is in the final stages of the legislative process in the Seanad, but racing received virtually no mention in last week's committee stage debates aside from a theatrical outburst from Fianna Fail's Shane Cassells, whose lecture was yet another wearisome indictment of the lack of understanding about how sensitive the industry is to the provisions in this bill.

Cassells denounced politicians who "acted as lobbyists for the industry in trying to water down the legislation" before roaring: "Shame on those members."

After his deeply offensive pearl-clutching at the idea that an industry which supports 30,000 jobs would have the temerity to lobby politicians on a bill which threatens its existence, he proceeded to switch on the full-blast sanctimony by imploring those who had been receptive to lobbying to attend gambling addiction meetings.