Michael McDowell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I identify with the remarks of Senator Gallagher about the Leas-Cathaoirleach, Cathaoirleach, Clerk and Clerk Assistant, and all members of staff. I wish them a happy holiday and thank them for all the work they have done.

In the autumn, we fully expect to see the Taoiseach here to deal with the question of Seanad reform. I note the Supreme Court has yet to adjudicate on the application made by the Attorney General for four years to implement even the reform of the university seats, which was a somewhat relaxed timetable. There was no mention of doing anything else of what the Taoiseach, when he was Taoiseach previously, promised us here. That was to bring forward proposals for the reform of this House. It had not been done, which is astonishing, but that is the way things are. It will eventually catch up on them.

One thing local authority members can still do is decide whether, in their functional area, people can run amusement arcades with slot machines and the like. It is a power they have under the Gaming and Lotteries Act 1956. Dublin City Council revoked any such permission 30-something years ago, yet in the city centre there is a vast amount of these places operating illegally and nobody is doing anything about it. I know there is a promised reform of gambling law but these places are effectively manipulating and exploiting the poorest people in our society. Something should be done about it. I ask that the Minister for Justice come the House in the autumn and say what the Government proposes to do on illegal use of gaming arcades in the city centre.