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

We have talked about what is quite simply a Fianna Fáil stroke by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to table a last-minute amendment that will allow political parties to raise money through a lottery licence. Of course, the reason he is doing that is because that practice is currently illegal. Back in the 1980s, the Taoiseach will remember that Fianna Fáil was brought all the way to the Supreme Court by An Garda Síochána to prove it was neither a charity nor a philanthropic body.

Recognising the Minister’s amendment will make this legal for the first time, I have very specific questions for the Taoiseach. Will he explain to the House how Fianna Fáil raised more than half a million euro last year through a lottery licence? Did his party mislead the courts? Given the conditions of such a licence, which stipulate that money should go to charity, has Fianna Fáil now handed that money over to a charitable cause? These are very specific questions. I hope I get specific answers.

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