Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I will yield to my colleagues because they might have similar questions. I get a sense that Ministers comment on lots of things. There has been a lot of investigative journalism identifying blatantly illegal operations within our city and other places, which has significant implications for Revenue and for the State. Licences issued by the District Court are breached and a blind eye is turned.

The Revenue Commissioners have recently engaged in some token sampling, but the fact that the Minister of State is unwilling to comment demonstrates a worrying shadow cast by this powerful industry. Ministers frequently comment on many issues. It is a bit like saying that the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Ross, does not have responsibility for the FAI because it is a charity. However, he was happy to comment yesterday when that matter was in the public spotlight. The issue of illegal gaming operations involves blatant breaches of the law, but the Minister of State is refusing to comment, which shows the very worrying shadow cast by a powerful industry that wants to stay out of the spotlight and does not want to be regulated. It is unfortunate that the committee only has 45 minutes in which to discuss this matter.