Jimmy Harte (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister to the House. I recall the day the national lottery was launched. I purchased a £2 ticket that day for one of my children, who won £2 in that draw. I thought it was a good idea, although it was opposed at the time by the Fianna Fáil Party. I am sure Sinn Féin would also have opposed it. As I said on another occasion, were we to give Sinn Féin the winning lottery numbers for Saturday, they would oppose that too. Fianna Fáil rowed back on its opposition to it when in Government as it saw the value of it in terms of funding.

As in the 1980s, we are in economically tough times. The establishment of the national lottery in 1986, when times were tough, was a great move on the part of then coalition Government. It has been so successful, with ¤4 billion of funding from it benefiting every town and village throughout the country. There is hardly a football, tennis or GAA club or community that has not benefited from funding from it.

The children's hospital is an important matter. However, I do not believe people buy national lottery tickets because they think their local club might benefit from funding from it, rather they buy them, as I do, because they hope to win ¤50 or ¤500. They buy a scratch card hoping they might get three stars and get to spin the wheel and win a larger amount. We all wish for that. I am sure everybody here has played the lotto. Playing the lotto is not gambling. I have never heard of a person who is addicted to playing the national lottery. Gamblers are usually addicted to playing the slot machines and so on. The national lottery is a good way of collecting money to the benefit of the country.

It is important the purchase of the national licence is put out to tender. As stated by the Minister, it will be awarded to the highest bidder, who will then generate money for the company. As the licence will return to the ownership of Government in 20 years' time, we still have a grasp on it. The national lottery has been successful. I am sure the children's hospital will benefit from it in the future. I am sure future generations will see this as a good move. I appreciate the concerns of Senator O'Donnell and others in terms of our losing control of the national lottery. The record will show that it has been progressive in terms of providing funding.