Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)

As the Deputy will be aware, I have previously set out for the House the terms of reference of the cross-party committee, which I propose setting up in order to reflect on and review the report "Regulating Gaming in Ireland". I have gone on record to say that the informal committee represents the best opportunity for identifying options for consideration by Government on the many complex inter-related issues in this area. It offers the best guarantee that the interests of all elements in our society are taken into account from the beginning in an area of important public policy. The Deputy will also be aware of the involvement envisaged for members of his party in that committee, including that of chairperson.

I wrote to the Leaders of Fine Gael and Labour on 2 and 3 October 2008, respectively, to confirm proposals for the formation of the committee. The Leader of Fine Gael responded on 3 October saying that he wished to discuss the matter with his party colleagues and that he would be in touch with me again once he had completed those deliberations. Deputy Kenny wrote to me again on 1 December 2008 to state that his party is willing to participate in the cross-party committee provided that the terms of reference for the committee specifically exclude the issue of the installation of fixed-odds betting terminals, FOBTs, in betting shops.

Likewise, the leader of the Labour Party on 23 October 2008 reaffirmed his party's unwillingness to participate in the cross-party committee unless FOBTs are excluded.

I will now carefully consider whether there is anything to be gained from establishing a committee which is forced to exclude from its consideration a controversial component of the modern gambling environment. I share the misgivings of the Deputies opposite about FOBTs, but I do not believe we can solve any problems associated with them by simply ignoring their existence. We must face up to the challenges and threats, as well as the opportunities, inherent in new technologies and evolving social habits, and not bury our heads in the sand and hope they go away. I will reflect on the responses of the party leaders and will shortly decide on a course of action.

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