Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

I reiterate the points on the 98% and 2%, which was the standout issue in the chapter produced by the Comptroller and Auditor General. I question why the information came through the Comptroller and Auditor General and not the Office of the National Lottery Regulator, which would have been the obvious place. That took many of us by surprise and the 98% and 2% is way out of line with what I expected to see. There is blanket advertising. You can hardly turn on the television, unless you are looking at something without ads, without seeing an advertisement for the national lottery.

We received some information on the breakdown of sales and prizes. One advertisement talks about 90% going back to the community. That does not stack up in terms of the number of prizes, which is what people understand that to mean. Of €1 billion in sales, €586 million went back in prizes. The gross gaming revenue was €468 million. Some went to the Exchequer. This was in 2021. There were retailers' commissions, a payment to the regulator and the operator's payment. Ms Boates says she monitors the content. What was her attitude to that advertisement? Did she take that up with them? She cannot say that is an accurate reflection of the money going back into the community.