Jillian van Turnhout (Independent) | Oireachtas source

With respect, I listened to the Minister. First, on the figure of ¤500 million and the clear statement that there was no basis to it, while waiting to speak I put "national lottery, Brendan Howlin and ¤500 million" into Google. The Minister must speak to his spokespeople. Numerous newspaper articles come up in response to the search. If we take The Irish Times in August 2012, there is a reference to the lottery licence sale Bill being due next month and to the Minister, Deputy Howlin, saying that the building of the national children's hospital could be part-funded by a front-load payment secured for the next licence to operate the national lottery. It was stated that the upfront payment to the State could be in the region of ¤500 million while some ¤200 million could go to the children's hospital project. The article indicated that the Minister's officials have met and held conference calls with potential bidders for the licence. I went to many sites. I was alarmed that top-10-online-gambling-sites.com is very excited and proposes to bid for the national lottery. That makes me hesitant about what is taking place.

The Minister has said we cannot afford it. It is a difficult subject because it is about the national children's hospital. I passionately agree that we must build the hospital. I have been waiting for it. The announcement by the Minister for Health was to set up a new board for it. The hospital is like the carrot at the end of a stick. We are constantly being told that it will go ahead. I concur with Senator Norris's image of holding the baby. It has become an emotive issue. I want the hospital to go ahead but I do not understand why we cannot have a hypothecated draw. "Hypothecated" is a new word for me.