Results 3,601-3,620 of 5,098 for speaker:Mairéad Farrell

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Issues Related to the National Lottery: Discussion (15 Dec 2021)

Mairéad Farrell: Then the unique aspect is basically that 847,000 rather than the 1.4 million per game. That is what Mr. Algeo is saying, in effect, in terms of the unique aspect.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Issues Related to the National Lottery: Discussion (15 Dec 2021)

Mairéad Farrell: Okay.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Issues Related to the National Lottery: Discussion (15 Dec 2021)

Mairéad Farrell: Okay. I wish to go back to the point when the national lottery was privatised by a Fine Gael Government in 2014. Two additional balls were added to the total numbers needed to match and win. This was always going to decrease the number of winners and increase the number of losers, which is really privatisation in a nutshell. However, we are here today because of the concern expressed by...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Issues Related to the National Lottery: Discussion (15 Dec 2021)

Mairéad Farrell: The question related to the risk assessment and then what decision was made at the time when PLI took over. Looking at best practice, in Britain a jackpot can only be rolled over five times. I am startled that this was not examined at the point when the national lottery was privatised. The other major biweekly lottery, the EuroMillions, is the same in that the jackpot can only be rolled...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Issues Related to the National Lottery: Discussion (15 Dec 2021)

Mairéad Farrell: Regarding unclaimed prizes, it was reported by the media earlier this year that unclaimed prizes in 2020 amounted to €17 million. I am sure the people who have not claimed their prizes will not be too happy to hear that they missed them. Can Mr. Algeo specify exactly what happens to the money in the unclaimed prizes? In Britain, unclaimed prizes are directed into the relevant...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Issues Related to the National Lottery: Discussion (15 Dec 2021)

Mairéad Farrell: It is quite interesting and probably something on which the committee needs to focus because, obviously, the purpose of the lottery is to generate money for good causes. The impact on those causes must be central to the focus of the committee. It is a pity that was not considered when the national lottery was privatised by the then Government.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Issues Related to the National Lottery: Discussion (15 Dec 2021)

Mairéad Farrell: I wish to ask a final question relating to probability. My apologies for returning to this issue. Mr. Algeo stated that the probability of having 54 rollovers is the same as that of a die being cast 37 times without a six being rolled, which is 0.01%. We have agreed on that. For the same probability to apply to the run of rollovers means that fewer than 1 million unique tickets would need...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Issues Related to the National Lottery: Discussion (15 Dec 2021)

Mairéad Farrell: Five times.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Issues Related to the National Lottery: Discussion (15 Dec 2021)

Mairéad Farrell: I ask Mr. Algeo to furnish the committee at a later stage with more detail in respect of that comparison with the British lottery. I think it is a 1 in 45 million chance, as an individual, to win the British lottery, but in terms of ticket sales, etc., that obviously changes and the probability changes. I would be interested to get those figures. I can send him my specific question after...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Issues Related to the National Lottery: Discussion (15 Dec 2021)

Mairéad Farrell: I ask the Chair exactly how many minutes I have because he will want to contribute as well. I will be as quick and brief as possible.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Issues Related to the National Lottery: Discussion (15 Dec 2021)

Mairéad Farrell: That is perfect. I will make sure to keep the questions as quick and easy as possible. Perhaps the answers could be as well, if that is okay. I missed some of the debate because I had to pop out for another meeting. Why does this State differ from other jurisdictions with regard to regulatory oversight? Why does responsibility for the national lottery remain with a regulatory body and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Issues Related to the National Lottery: Discussion (15 Dec 2021)

Mairéad Farrell: Gabhaim buíochas as sin. I have a question arising from a question Deputy Tóibín asked in the previous session. I took a quick look at the audited financial statements of Premier Lotteries Ireland. It was a brief look so I am open to correction if I have got this wrong but, from what I can see, PLI paid no tax in 2019. It actually got a refund of €100,000. It paid...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Issues Related to the National Lottery: Discussion (15 Dec 2021)

Mairéad Farrell: I thank Ms Boate. It just seems unusual for a company that is profitable. I understand that this does not fall within the regulator's brief. We are under time pressure so I will move on. In respect of the distribution of funds to good causes, the regulator is concerned with proper administration. An issue that has been raised with me is that, under the model in England, an entirely...

Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (Extension of Notice Periods) Bill 2021: Second Stage [Private Members] (14 Dec 2021)

Mairéad Farrell: There is a scenario which has become far too prevalent. Let us imagine a context where a landlord has issued a notice to quit. Anxiety would set in as the people concerned desperately search for somewhere to live. It may prove impossible, however, to find anywhere affordable. The housing assistance payment, HAP, may not be sufficient to cover the rent of any of those places which are...

European Council Meeting: Statements (14 Dec 2021)

Mairéad Farrell: I wish the raise the case of Julian Assange again. Last Friday, it took just nine minutes for the British magistrates to uphold an American appeal against a district court judge's ruling that Julian Assange should not be extradited. That judge had accepted in January that hell on earth was what awaited Julian Assange and that extradition would mean he would likely take his own life. On...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (14 Dec 2021)

Mairéad Farrell: 82. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the ownership structure of National Broadband Ireland and a company (details supplied) respectively with regard to the National Broadband Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61538/21]

Regulation of Tenderers Bill 2021: Second Stage [Private Members] (9 Dec 2021)

Mairéad Farrell: I am fed up of coming in here and being told the Government wants to work with the Opposition but the Opposition and Sinn Féin do not give the Government any ideas and do not do anything. Every time I come in here with any kind of a Bill, all I hear from Government is that it will kick the can down the road for nine months, it will not engage on it, it disagrees, it will not bring the...

Regulation of Tenderers Bill 2021: Second Stage [Private Members] (9 Dec 2021)

Mairéad Farrell: I move: “That the Bill be now read a Second Time.” Táim chun m'am a roinnt le mo chomhghleacaithe. I am delighted to speak alongside my colleague Deputy Patricia Ryan on the Second Stage debate of our Bill. I might say a few words on what motivated us to table it, why it is necessary and how it will improve the regulation of tender bids for capital works. We are...