Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

With all due respect, I am still trying to figure out what exactly Ms Boate's job is and what is the regulator's role. We have learned that the regulator does not issue directives and publishes information if it is in line with the freedom of information request. There are elements of the legislation that prevent the regulator from publishing what I would consider to be information that is very much in the public interest. The regulator never highlights any of these issues in its annual report and it never, or very rarely, issues any directives to the national lottery. We also have this situation where ludicrous - I would say obscene - amounts of money are spent on advertising that promotes a false perception to members of the public that 90 cent of every euro they spend is somehow going back into the community, when that is simply not true. What precisely is the role of the regulator in protecting those people who are spending their money buying lottery tickets on a weekly basis?