Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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Question 102: To ask the Minister for Finance the position regarding consultations which have taken place with respect to changes to the gambling legislation; if he will bring forward legislative proposals in this regard; if he has had discussions with the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform on the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21954/08]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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The Casino Regulation Committee, established in 2006 by the then Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, in undertaking its work examined the issue of gambling.

As the Deputy will be aware, in my previous capacity as Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, I informed the House on 17 April that the whole issue of regulating gaming in Ireland was best addressed through the publication of the Casino Regulation Committee's report Regulating Gaming in Ireland and by referring it to an informal All-Party Committee for consideration. While the report deals primarily with the regulation of gaming in Ireland, it is clear that the complex issues involved have implications for other areas of gambling including sports betting. Therefore, the issue of legislative reform for gambling as a whole should not arise until the complexities of the report have been considered fully.

Responsibility for considering the Casino Regulation Committee's report now rests with my colleague the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Dermot Ahern, TD. Minister Ahern, on 28 May, informed the House that while he had not yet had the opportunity to consider how to best advance the complex issues involved, he intended to move quickly and that he was conscious of the need to ensure that the widest possible range of views was canvassed and brought to bear on settling public policy in this area. I support Minister Ahern's approach.