Irish minister in casino lobbying row

Eire today, gone tomorrow?
Eire today, gone tomorrow?

An Irish politician is in hot water for lobbying fellow ministers to support a friend’s proposal to build a Las Vegas-style winter sports and casino development in Dundalk. Dermot Ahern, the justice minister with responsibility for drafting legislation on casinos, is alleged to have written a letter of support last September to the backers of the €430m Altitude project. He also reportedly wrote to Mary Coughlan, the then enterprise minister, and Martin Cullen, who was minister for tourism and sport, asking them to back the project. Given the dire state of the Irish economy and the fact that the new casino would generate up to 2,000 jobs, you can’t blame him for trying to shake a few trees, can you? Read more.