Thomas Byrne (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for the debate. We, as a party, did not have fundamental differences about the issue. However, we did not agree that the regulator should be appointed and felt that it could be done quite adequately from within Government. We await the concrete implementation of the Minister's plan to put the money aside for the children's hospital, which must be central to the debate. The Minister gave a solemn commitment on it on Committee Stage in the Dáil and before the Seanad. His commitment was recorded and must be remembered by us. It will be a burden on the Minister throughout the rest of the year as this process continues. That is critical. We felt that there should be a more robust approach but that has not happened. We now depend on him implementing the measure.

My party has no problem with the process. It looks like the legislation will be passed so we wish the process all the best. The good causes which have benefitted from these projects want the scheme to continue. We have all acknowledged the fact that the communities that received funding from the national lottery needed the money. The children's hospital also needs to be built as a matter of urgency. God speed to the legislation. We wish the Minister and his staff well in the implementation if, as expected, the legislation is passed.