Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I understand that and will not say more on last week's discussion.

In his statement today, the Minister reiterated it is the intention that part of the up-front payment will be used to help fund the building of the proposed new children's hospital. Two minutes ago, in his last sentence, the Minister stated he would issue the lottery licence to raise significant up-front payment for the State which will enable the Government to deliver a key health facility, the new national children's hospital.

The Minister can imagine my shock during Christmas week when he published the National Lottery Bill in which, although it has 52 sections and 28 pages, we can find no reference to the national children's hospital or of ring-fencing the proceeds of the sale. The Minister may say these are different issues but there has been a whole debate on the issue and there has been public acceptance of the proposal The Minister mentioned great support for the plan and stated it was held in high esteem. It is in the programme for Government. On several occasions both the Minister, Deputy Howlin - even today - and the Minister for Health, Deputy Reilly, spoke about using the proceeds of the sale of the national lottery licence for building the national children's hospital. However, there is diddlysquat in the 28 pages of legislation about that hospital.

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