Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Senator is right and Deputy Howlin has put it on the record that the measure has nothing to do with the troika. She is right and the Minister conceded that point from the start.

As the Minister of State responsible for procurement, I have a little knowledge of the matter myself because these licences are under EU procurement, particularly when it comes to a State asset which the national lottery is, effectively. As the Minister has said, we have a responsibility. As the Senator will know, between 1999 and 2001, three competitors competed for the licence, Sisal from Italy, Autotote Lottery from the USA and the winning bid came from An Post, our own national lottery company. She is incorrect to say that EU law in this area does not apply. That is not correct, it does apply.