Between 75 and 93 I was involved in the the Donegal Association Against Gaming Machines. Every voluntary organisation in Donegal, from parent-teacher associations to the Health Board to the Bahai faith, was behind us. The Catholic Bishop of Raphoe was a particularly strong warrior. Meetings in town halls were capacity and overflowing. Hired-in public relations experts were outnumbered and out-talked. The media of all types for once were on our side – to a man.

Threats of violence added pepper and salt to the whole thing. I didn't tell the wife but I used to check under the car for bombs. Feelings understandably ran high. As one leading arcade owner in Donegal is reputed to have once boasted: it was a licence to print money.

We conducted surveys: 90% of people wanted the adoption of the act rescinded or not re-adopted. Normally reticent to condemn other business, normal business people turned out to be 75% against gaming arcades. Not so TD's and Councillors. Many of them resented having to make a decision on the matter. "It should be handled nationally," they often complained.

But they couldn't avoid making a decision. The '56 Gaming and Lotteries Act had been framed as' adoptive' legislation. That meant that the buck stopped with local authorities. For one particularly stubborn TD and councillor, I had to resort to getting his mother on the job!

Eventually they capitulated. The local authorities all rescinded their adoption of the '56 Act, except Bundoran.

Years later there were all party committees looking into updating the act. They took on board our representations about the absolute necessity of keeping the thing under local control, under adoptive legislation. If decision making on gaming ever leaves local control, the fortunes to be made out of a single slot machine are so amazing that it will be like trying to control a gold rush in an Indian reservation. It is not humanly possible. The size of the profits corrupt everyone.

The purpose of my letter is to point out that the EU has long indicated that it intends to impose gaming and casinos throughout the EU. It has already done so in Holland, France and elsewhere. The gaming industry has been gearing up here in Ireland for months in expectation. Blatantly illegal gaming has been tolerated for 20 years as so-called 'private clubs'. The guards tried on several occasions to apply the law but had the rug pulled from under them by the courts. Our esteemed judiciary have to have one eye on the law and another on what is coming down the line.

So if Lisbon is approved – forget it. After all Ireland has long since been designated principally as a holiday facility. Casinos for tourists will be the order of the day. Too bad about 90% of the locals and what they might or might not want. Subsidiarity – I say!

Yours,

Brian Flanagan,

Buncrana.