Paul Quinn has been appointed as chair of the new independent authority alongside six members, Celine Craig, Marion Kelly, Rita Purcell, David Hickson, Michael McGrath and Dr Colin O’Driscoll.

The new body will be responsible for regulating and licencing all gambling providers in the State and have wide-ranging powers to regulate both in-person and online gambling, gaming and most lotteries.

Today “marks a new era for the regulation of gambling in the Irish State”, justice minister Jim O’Callaghan said in a statement.

“The establishment of the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland is a further step towards replacing Ireland’s outdated gambling laws with a streamlined and simplified licensing framework, which will reflect the nature of modern gambling and take into account the harms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,” he said.

“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.”

He 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.

Anne-Marie Caulfield, CEO of the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland, 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.”