Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)

I asked in recent weeks when the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform would introduce a new gaming and lotteries Bill which has been on the agenda for some time. When is it intended to bring that Bill before the House? I note from today's newspapers that many of the large bookmakers chains intend to install slot and poker machines in their shops throughout the country, which they estimate would gross them in excess of €50 million in profits per year in the years ahead. It would be a retrograde step to install such machines in bookmakers shops and attempts to do so should be resisted by the Minister responsible.