David Norris (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I agree totally with my good colleague, Senator Marie-Louise O'Donnell, about the naming of the Bill. I do not understand why there should be any resistance to telling the public exactly what it is, namely, the sale of the national lottery. That is what we are doing; we are selling the national lottery. I believe in honesty. I know it is not fashionable but it is good to be honest, and the Title of the Bill should express the content of the Bill and its impact on the Irish people.

It strikes me that we should try to keep as much as we can that is profitable at home. This is selling off State assets, and I do not approve of it at all. It does not bother me whether it is at the instruction of the troika but it is very bullish and hectoring. We should retain as much of this as we can and make as much profit out of it as we can, because public assets that are privatised invariably go wallop from the point of view of the public. I instanced previously the bin collection services, which are disastrous because they have been privatised. There is mess everywhere throughout Dublin and the poor unfortunate corporation, having had its aspect of it sold off, now has to come around and clean up after the commercial boys.