FINE GAEL has agreed to an approach by Minister for Justice Brian Lenihan to set up an all-party Oireachtas committee to investigate the future of gambling in Ireland, it has emerged.
However, the Minister has, unusually, not so far approached any other political party to supply members to the committee, which is to be headed by Fine Gael TD and bloodstock insurer Seán Barrett.
Mr Lenihan made "an informal approach" to the Fine Gael leader, Enda Kenny, some weeks ago, and the latter agreed to Mr Barrett assuming the chairmanship of the group following a conversation between the two men.
He will be tasked with reporting on the recommendations offered last year by an interdepartmental committee that looked at the need to legislate currently unregulated casinos.
The report, publication of which has been repeatedly delayed, is now due to appear next week. It argues against setting up super-casinos, but accepts the need for smaller ones.
UK betting chain Ladbrokes strongly rejected charges from former Labour leader Pat Rabbitte that it has met the Minister for Finance, Brian Cowen, to lobby for the introduction of fixed-odds betting terminals in betting shops.
In a statement, Mr Rabbitte claimed that Mr Cowen has "given the nod to the bookmakers industry" that the Government would permit the controversial terminals.
However, Ladbrokes said it had not met Mr Cowen for 2½ years, and its only contact with the authors of the report came when the Irish Bookmakers Association - which represents all bookies, except Paddy Powers - submitted a report of its views to the committee.
