Aideen Hayden (Labour) | Oireachtas source

A number of good points have been made during this debate, which have been addressed by the Minister. The time to sell an asset - the lottery is not being privatised, rather it is being licensed - is when one needs money. In my opinion, the time to sell is now. We have waited for far too long for a new national children's hospital. If I had any belief in Senator O'Donnell's proposal, I would be the first to support it. However, I do not. I do not believe we can wait one minute longer for a children's hospital in this country. The time to sell this asset is now.

The lottery is not a port, strategic infrastructural asset or a bog. I do not believe its sale will impact in any way on the capacity of our economy to do its business. The Minister in previous speeches has given many assurances in regard to national lottery employees and the retailers likely to be impacted by sale of the licence. We will probably have another robust debate on this matter when the Bill comes before the House. My view on this matter has not been changed. As far as I am concerned, the Minister has given a guarantee that there will be an upfront amount of funding set aside for the construction of the national children's hospital, which in my opinion is 14 years too late.