Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 77: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a firm (details supplied) has introduced fixed odds bingo terminals into certain of its betting shops; if, in view of the fact that these terminals are illegal he will ensure that the law will be applied; if he plans that these terminals should be legalised in preparation for the legalising of fixed odds betting terminals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21505/09]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The position as regards Fixed Odds Betting Terminals in betting offices was outlined by a former Minister for Justice. Equality and Law Reform. On 14 December 2006 the then Tánaiste and Minister for Justice. Equality and Law Reform stated on the Order of Business that the placement of these machines in betting offices would not be lawful under current legislation, and that if placed in a betting office they would be liable to seizure. The law has not changed in the interim.

I have, therefore, passed on the details supplied by the Deputy to the Garda Commissioner and I have asked him to establish if there have been any breaches of the Gaming and Lotteries Act 1956 as amended, or indeed of the Betting Act 1931 which comes under the responsibility of my colleague, the Minister for Finance.

I have made clear to this House my antipathy to Fixed Odds Betting Terminals on a number of occasions and I can assure the Deputy that I have no plans to change the law in this area as it currently stands. I have, however, initiated a wide-ranging review of gambling from within my own Department. The objective of the review is to provide Government with options for a new and comprehensive legal and organisational framework governing the gambling architecture in the State. The Casino Gaming Control Section of my Department will be responsible for bringing forward proposals, including a draft Bill, for a revised gambling code. The section is consulting widely before bringing forward any proposals and welcomes contributions on this important matter of public policy from all stakeholders - statutory, NGO and the private sector - and with the community at large. I envisage that the review will take approximately two years to complete.