Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Earlier I outlined a number of projects in County Monaghan that were funded from lottery moneys and while the sums of money involved were not massive, they were absolutely crucial to sustaining these important projects which are of enormous benefit to local communities in County Monaghan and, indeed, across the country.

I acknowledge the fact that the Minister has confirmed that the next licence will involve the ongoing provision of a significant level of funding for good causes each year, as reflected in section 41 of the Bill. It is vitally important that safeguards are put in place to ensure that national lottery funding will continue to support local projects in the future.

One aspect of the Bill which is of concern to me is the possible relaxation of the rules governing online sales of national lottery tickets. Obviously, given the nature of the technology-driven era in which we live, there is huge potential to increase sales by making Internet trade more accessible to the public. I note that at present less than 3% of national lottery tickets are purchased online, which is a relatively small amount. The danger of making online purchases more readily available is the potential that vulnerable persons will fall prey to the new system. In an era where online gambling is rife, I would be concerned that our national lottery could be seen to encourage those with an addictive personality. Obviously if people want to buy lottery tickets en masse, they can simply walk into a post office or a shop to do so. The danger with online sales is the possibility of people building up card debt. That is not what our national lottery is about and it is important that we tread carefully because once we open the door to online sales, it could be a very slippery slope. We do not want the ethos of the lottery, which has proved so strong and which has been key to its success, to be tainted by a revenue generating exercise. The Minister has advised that the sale of tickets online will be done in a way which will protect minors and vulnerable adults. I would like confirmation that strong safeguards will be in place in this regard because, as we all know, the Internet is not easy to police.

I would also ask the Minister to ensure due consideration is given to the existing network of lotto retail outlets and the fact that their lotto sales form an integral and extremely important part of their business. In many cases, it is the add-on business that is generated from their lotto sales that makes them sustainable and ensures their survival, especially in rural towns and villages. It is important, therefore, to take into account the impact the relaxation of the rules governing online purchases will have on these smaller shops, the rural economy generally and on the social interaction of simply buying a lottery ticket. I ask the Minister to examine this issue.

At the outset I said that our present economic circumstances required the Government to think outside the box with regard to the expiry of the current national lottery licence. This is an opportunity to raise much-needed revenue which will help to fund important local and national projects. At the present time of limited resources, additional revenue is obviously welcome. It is vital, however, that the new arrangements are monitored closely by the new national lottery regulator, particularly with regard to online sales. It would be my hope that the successful tender will recognise the ethos which has made the national lottery so strong in the past and will strive to continue in this tradition.

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