Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 127: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he or his Ministers of State have received representations in favour of casinos and casino gambling here; the number of representations that have been received; if any of the promoters of changes in the law to facilitate casino gambling have been met personally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36736/06]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 129: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the representations he has received in favour of casinos and casino gambling here; the number of representations he has received; the organisations and persons he has received them from; the form the representations have taken; if he has met with promoters of casinos and casino gambling; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36758/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 127 and 129 together.

As the Deputy is already aware, in August this year the Government agreed to my proposals for the establishment of an Inter-Departmental Committee (the Casino Regulation Committee), on which my Department is represented, to report on the possibilities for a legislative basis for the strict regulation of casino-style operations within the State. The Casino Regulation Committee is due to report to Government shortly.

The Deputy should be aware that my Department has taken a decision not to have individual meetings with promoters of change in the law outside of the Committee framework pending the completion of that Committee's report.

The Committee issued a public call for submissions and has met many of the parties who made submissions. As part of its functions on that Committee my Department was represented at those meetings. Outside of this framework in that time, I have received representations from eight parties promoting changes in the law and one against such change. My response to all such representations is that having established a Committee to consider these complex issues, I do not propose to comment on future policy in advance of receiving and considering the report of the Casino Regulation Committee.

It is a fact that some organisations and individuals may not want their names appearing in the public domain and bearing in mind the requirements under the Freedom of Information legislation to protect third party information, I do not propose to provide details of the individuals or organisation who made written representations to me at this time.