Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)

Any club that has proceeded with a project on the basis of a promise from somebody should know that, legally, that is impossible to do. It is simply not possible. The Comptroller and Auditor General examines these proposals. The process that is in place in the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism is totally transparent. Proper procedures are in place to deal with a range of areas.

It always has been the case, under successive Governments, that the proceeds of the national lottery are sent to the central Exchequer. That is not a new position — it has been the case since the inception of the lottery many years ago. A proportion of the money that is allocated to sporting organisations can legitimately be said to come from funds directly associated with the national lottery. It does not go from the national lottery to the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism — it goes to the central Exchequer. That has been always the case.