Michael McDowell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I wish to refer to sections 95 and 96 again and reiterate what I said earlier. As far as I am concerned, this Bill abolishes the right of local authorities to determine what part of their local administrative areas the operation of casinos can take place in. Instead, section 96 comes up with a rather ridiculous proposal that they should be consulted. I have spoken about this issue before, so I am not going to delay the House now. However, what is being done here will take away a valuable power from local authorities to determine where casinos can operate in their areas. That power exists under the 1956 Act. It is being scrapped under this provision. No good reason has ever been advanced why local authorities should not have the power to decide these matters.

This Bill, the debate on which is being guillotined, is one to enable gambling, to increase the amount of gambling that takes place in Ireland and to increase the exploitation of people who are the least able to afford their gambling habits. It is not a step in the right direction. I am strongly opposed to the Bill, to the intent behind it, to the fact that it takes away local authorities' discretion in this matter and to the fact that it will have the effect of increasing injustice in our society by making it easier for rich people to get richer at the expense of poor people.