Feargal Quinn (Independent)

I second the motion.

The Minister of State may be pleased to know that I added my name to this motion for precisely the reasons outlined by Senator Henry. I was involved in the opening of the national lottery in the 1980s. One of things that appealed to me about the national lottery was the battle that went on to ensure that the money from ticket sales did not go into Government funds in order to shore up the deficit or that existed at the time. Accordingly I was happy to add my name to this proposal and to support the ringfencing of the money.

I then read what the Minister of State said during the week and realised that there are State lands with a portfolio value of €2.5 billion, so clearly such sales are likely to happen in the years ahead. Considering that we spent €98 million on rental last year, it clearly makes a great deal of sense not to be paying rent at the same time as we have unused land.

It is logical too for the Minister of State not to declare what is going to be done, because a "fire sale" would then be necessary, where something has to be sold without achieving its commercial value. Senator Henry has asked about the purpose of the Lad Lane sales, and what the money will be used for, and the amendment, which I had not seen until now, expands a little on what I heard. Nobody is going to say these are not worthy causes, but regarding the Central Mental Hospital in Dundrum, which the Minister for Health and Children and the Minister of State recently visited – the first Ministers to do so for a long time – there is little doubt that it makes sense to identify that as the really deserving cause.