Ivana Bacik (Independent) | Oireachtas source

How else can we guarantee that the construction of this hospital will go ahead in the way we want it to? The Government must face that difficult question which is at the root of this Bill, although it is not explicitly present within it. That is clearly the context, however, in which we are discussing the legislation.

There is a broader philosophical point about the issue of a competition for the licence. The national lottery is not a strategic State asset of national importance and, as I have said, this is a lease rather than a sale. Many of us do have concerns about gambling and the State having a role in facilitating it. That is a particular ideological or philosophical difficulty that many of us have to struggle with. While we may welcome the large proceeds from the sale of national lottery tickets, we must be conscious that for a lot of people that comes with some pain. If they are buying lottery tickets they are essentially gambling, so there is a difficulty with the State having a large stake in that process. That is part of the context of this Bill.

Having said that, the next licence will involve the ongoing provision of significant funding for good causes each year. The legislation makes it clear that regarding good causes which receive national lottery funding, the new Bill will not provide for any changes to existing categories of good causes, so they will remain.