Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)

I decided to proceed in the short term to include a mechanism whereby the private gaming clubs that have mushroomed in this country would have to apply for authorisation. Under the anti-money laundering legislation which will come forward quickly, if those clubs are to go ahead, they must sign up to it so there will be an element of regulation. We plan to introduce legislation for the long-term regulation of casinos and gaming based on the report that issued some time back. We are looking at the legislation that was passed in Britain, which took some time but is a good template we can work from.

I have received Government approval in the last two months to accept that the cross-party committee is dead.

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