Jim Walsh (Fianna Fail)

I commend Senators O'Donnell and Mary Ann O'Brien on tabling this motion. They made much sense in what they said about the national lottery. The debate can be divided into two categories - the public service ethos and the business ethos. I am not criticising the Minister for it because he comes from a public service background and is advised by people in the public service, but his speech displayed all the elements of the public service ethos.

I listened with interest about what Senator Barrett had to say about privatisation. I concur with him in that I would support privatisation in certain selective instances. There is no doubt that businesses can be more efficiently and effectively operated in the competitive environment of the business sector. Equally, there are situations where it behoves us not to go that route with certain State assets. The proposals with the national lottery are not an asset disposal. The M50 West Link and National Toll Roads contract was a significant public sector and political mistake at the time. The revenue accrued to that contract was enormous. I see this proposal in a similar light. We are looking at capitalising a significant annual income flow. That is much different from an asset disposal. That point was badly missed by the Minister in his contribution.

The motion's proposers are correct. There will be no bidder for the lottery licence who will not do so out of a clear vision of a very significant profitable return to themselves.