The fact of the matter is that most people don't give a Monkeys what goes on in Dublin unless you happen to reside within the capital city. But of late, they have been made to suffer with a crazy 30km zone bringing the streets to a very slow pace and affecting many people travelling around the centre. This scheme was the brain child of one Cllr Andrew Montague a Labour Councillor who perhaps bikes around the city and doesn't drive.
His new scheme is to get rid of gaming machines out of Dublin city, keep control of Gaming and Ban casinos in the city. His motion put forward to the council on the 1st was unanimously passed creating a sub committee to look at the issue and try to make casinos unviable in the city. The ban on gaming machines is no big deal but a move on Casinos could see the loss of jobs and our beloved city centre casinos closed down. This sets a dangerous precedent for every other council. What would this country be without the Fitzwilliam, Voodoo or Sporting Club?
Cllr Montague feels it is necessary for the Dublin City Council to keep control of gaming instead of letting the new country wide Gaming bill regulate and control gaming in licensed premises. Which would keep jobs and remove some of the stigma attached to poker and gaming.
Cllr Vincent Jackson (ind) had obviously received a few bad beats the night before as he claimed 'there is nothing fun about poker machines'. He went further to to talk about the 'Seedy people who run these joints'. He obviously hasn't been to the lush SE. Perhaps they could offer him free membership with some free chips'
Cllr Christy Burke highlighted the larger number of women in casinos lately, he obviously doesn't like the idea of women in the private members clubs.
Both Cllr Mannix Flynn (ind) and Cllr Pat Cummins (FG) highlighted problems with online gaming and how it could affect people negatively but only Cllr Cummins highlighted the need for education about the 'badness of gambling'.
They all voted unanimously with Cllr Montague's little scheme, which through the new sub committee could see the end of casinos in Dublin. Even though the government minister is putting down plans to secure the jobs and regulate the industry.
Get rid of the gaming machines, keep licensed and regulated casinos. Keep the jobs and our private clubs and let us play poker in safe environment.