Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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The regulator clearly has questions to answer in that case. It is obvious that the lottery has had similar breaches but Mr. Algeo is afraid to say it. That is all right. We will bring representatives of the regulator back before the committee. This is a ridiculous scenario. Mr. Algeo has made no effort to give the committee a flavour of how the national lottery regards the welfare of people. All the good that is done by the national lottery is being negated by its neglect for the welfare of those who are operating a system. It is online and it is a highly addictive activity. As I said this morning, families have been decimated by this activity. The safeguards are the only things we can rely on to ensure we can retain it as legalised gaming activity. I am not afraid of gambling but I do not have an addictive nature. I can buy a scratch card, go home and forget about it for another month. As Deputy Munster pointed out, some people buy ten scratch cards and then buy another ten. That is a welfare issue. What safeguards are in place? How much is being spent on them? That must be known for legislators to endorse what the lottery is doing.

Has Mr. Algeo seen the Indecon report?