Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)

I intend to publish the casino regulation committee's report in the coming days. The committee considered a broad range of issues other than simply casinos. It strongly recommends that gaming and betting should be treated as two completely separate types of gambling activities — for example, it makes recommendations in regard to where each can take place.

These are complex issues. This excellent report deserves further analysis not only by the Government but also by the Oireachtas. It points to the need for a regulatory authority, based in the Department, to oversee gaming and casinos. It also refers to the incredibly addictive nature of fixed odds betting terminals, which have become a prominent feature in the United Kingdom. The report also refers to the issue of Internet gambling but it comes to no conclusions. These issues can only be dealt with through a comprehensive examination which includes a mechanism whereby the public can make its views known, whether in support of or in opposition to the proposals.

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