Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Under the National Lottery Act 2013, the full cost of the lottery regulator is to be borne by the licensee. Obviously, when we were preparing the Estimate in October, we had to make a provision for €150,000 to cover the operation of the regulator in the course of 2015. I am advised that it is unlikely that any of these moneys will be used because the full cost of the regulator, including the provision of premises and support staff, will be borne entirely by the licensee in accordance with the Act.

We have made a provision in case of a carryover of a few thousand euro from last year. We need a subhead, but I am advised it is unlikely it will amount to the €150,000 being provided.

With regard to the role of the regulator during the difficulty experienced in recent weeks when the lotto draw was delayed for a day, I understand the regulator of the national lottery has requested a full report on this outage, to include the reasons contingency measures did not work and the lotto had to be postponed. Apparently he has asked for measures to be taken by Premier Lotteries Ireland, PLI, which is the licensee, to avoid a recurrence. He has also demanded details of testing and any other measures taken to provide assurances. All of this is being done, I am advised, by the regulator. The Deputy will recall that during the passage of the Act last year we made the regulator amenable to the House, so it may be worthwhile when the full investigation has concluded to invite him before the committee to go through it in detail and give reassurance, because it is important that people have confidence in the operation of the lotto as it is a very important national institution

The State asset disposal programme was brought to a completion last year, yielding special dividends of approximately €350 million last year to the State from the sale of assets of Bord Gáis Éireann and the ESB. I am advised approximately €1.4 billion in total special dividends is expected from last year, this year and next year. I can go through this in some detail if the Deputy wishes, or I can give him a document on Bord Gáis Éireann and the ESB with regard to the sale accrued and the dividend profile. Would the Deputy like me to read it or will I provide the detail to him?