Casino development plans
Senator Norris criticises plans for up to 40 casinos, arguing that gambling is addictive and that Government policy is hypocritical.
I express concern at the Government's plans for developing casinos in this country. It is giving licences for 40 casinos. There is great hypocrisy in this. We are told that it would be a mistake to legalise drugs and that if it had the opportunity, it would not have legalised alcohol or tobacco, but here it legalises another highly addictive pursuit. This is so recognised that just as tobacco companies hypocritically set up organisations to combat smuggling and so on, the gambling industry now contributes to centres for addiction for the people that they victimise. We now have a situation where 40 casinos are going to be allowed into Ireland. We do not know where they will come from. It is quite likely that organised crime will be involved. It is a great comment on the Government that we have gone from a casino situation with the gambling banks to a situation where we are going to try to run the country on casinos. That is absolutely lamentable.