asked the Minister for Tourism and Transport his views on the proposal to establish a number of casinos in Ireland.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Proposed Casinos.
13.
The Price Waterhouse Report on Improving the Performance of Irish Tourism recommended that consideration be given to licensing controlled casinos. The Tourism Forum held in January 1988 and the task force which was established to recommend measures to boost the tourism industry in 1988 also proposed that a casino be developed.
The statutory responsibility for the licensing of casinos rests with the Minister for Justice. His Department's recommendations on this matter will be considered by the Government in due course.
To the extent that the concept of casinos is being used as a tourism promotional idea and, indeed, this has surfaced in the submissions of the Dublin Council Chamber of Commerce as an integral part of a conference centre, would the Minister, his Department and the Cabinet bear in mind the fact that the city council in Dublin have unanimously rejected the notion of gaming of any sort in the city and is he in a position at this stage to give any assurances that wherever a casino is sited it will not be within the city limits?
I am aware of the position the Deputy has outlined with regard to the Dublin City Council and I am further aware that the Supreme Court made a decision on that. I have nothing further to add to what the Supreme Court said and did.
Is the Minister satisfied that the establishment of a casino is wise? While it might be wise in the interests of promoting tourism and attracting a certain type of visitor to this country, is it wise in the interests of the people of this country to go ahead with the development of a casino on that basis?
I should not like to digress from the contents of my answer. I am aware that there are moral and ethical implications involved in the establishment of a casino.
I understand that the Greeks in particular use the profits from the operation of casinos to finance their tourism promotional drive. Has the Minister or his Department made a study of the operations of casinos in Greece, the South of France or the Bahamas? Has the Minister or his Department studied the operations in question or do they intend to do so?
In the event of getting a recommendation from the Department of Justice, of course a wide study will have to be made of casinos and their use. I was not aware of the Greek situation and I pay particular attention to anything the Greeks do. If they gave me the sun they could keep the casinos.