Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 491: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if there is a link between casinos and money laundering or prostitution. [20443/06]

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 492: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the figures on the amount of people working in the casino industry here. [20444/06]

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 493: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if prohibition of casinos will lead to a growth of underground gambling activities; and his views on whether proper regulation will resolve the matter. [20445/06]

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 494: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his views regarding an association (details supplied); and the reason he wants to outlaw all casinos here. [20446/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 491 to 494, inclusive, together.

Public policy in the matter of casino gambling in Ireland is as set out in the Gaming and Lotteries Acts. These Acts prohibit casino-type operations, and I am strongly of the view that there should be no departure from settled policy in this area. It is my view that casinos are socially undesirable and I think that is the view of a great many people in this society. The Gaming and Lotteries Acts 1956-1986 define what unlawful gaming is, and allow permitted exclusions from that definition which cater for many activities that currently take place.

As I already indicated in an earlier Parliamentary Question (No. 409 on 4 April 2006) I have concerns about the enforceability of the present law as it applies to casino-style operations and the scope for use of such operations for money-laundering. There has been concern for some time about the scope that casinos offer for money laundering and the concealment of the proceeds of crime. This was highlighted in a recent report of an evaluation by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) — the leading international anti-money laundering organisation — of Ireland's anti-money laundering legislation and other measures. In that Report, the FATF evaluation team expressed their concern and stated that "..... this system [of private clubs operating as casinos] does create the potential for real AML/CFT (Money Laundering/Financing of Terrorism) risks. I also indicated in that reply that I intended to bring forward proposals for further changes to the gaming and lotteries legislation that will facilitate the prosecution of offences and the closing down of establishments engaged in such illegal operations. It is my intention to seek Government approval within the next few weeks for these changes, to be included, by way of Committee Stage amendments to the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006. In discussions held with my officials at the request of a body called the Gaming and Leisure Association of Ireland, representing a number of casino-style operations, these views and proposals have been conveyed in clear terms to that Association.

I do not believe that just because the possibility may exist that one of these so called clubs would go underground that that of itself is sufficient justification to take no action to tighten the law so as to improve the effectiveness of prosecutions. Furthermore, this is not a compelling argument for changing the law to make lawful what is an unlawful activity. I am not aware of any particular link between casino-style operations and prostitution; that is not to suggest that such a link might not exist. If the Deputy has any specific information that would indicate such a link, I ask him to share that information with me or with the Garda Síochána.

I am not in a position to speculate as to the numbers of persons employed in casino-style operations.