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

I will clarify a number of issues raised by colleagues. The reason for the Government's view of section 1 is that this is not the sale of the national lottery. It is effectively a long-term, 20-year lease, and therefore it would not be correct to say the national lottery is being sold, because it is not being sold. There are many examples of State assets being leased into the private sector for a period of years, and a number of models in which that occurs. We stand over section 1 because it is not the sale of a State asset.