Marie Louise O'Donnell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

It is interesting to hear Fianna Fáil mention God and the lottery in the same sentence.

I have championed the non-sale of the lottery over the past seven or eight months. It has been a wonderful learning experience. I now know how to take on a Bill and understand amendments. I understand the way that politics works and how Bills are passed in the House. I have also never considered that the comments made during the debate were personal.

The lottery has played a huge role in a part of the city that I have worked in for 25 years. I have a great belief that the funds of the public are the funds of the public. I understand why we are privatising the funds. I understand that many Senators have argued that privatisation is not necessarily bad if done well, and I accept their argument. I accept that we need the money and that we need the money upfront. I also accept that we need the money for something as wonderful as the children's hospital and, therefore, cannot argue against the initiative.

I am worried about the amount of money that will be extracted over the 20-year period. I am also worried about the problem of online interactive sales and gambling. I have been assured by the Minister that the online activity will be restricted. I counter that we should restrict it ourselves.

I did not table amendments today because I have made arguments to support my case over the past four or five debates and did not wish to repeat myself. To be fair to Senator Byrne, we both sang off the same hymn sheet but I did not feel the need to repeat myself.

I wish the Minister great luck with the initiative and hope that he gets the price. Its Hobson's choice. If one constrains bidders from the gambling sector, the price will be reduced, but if one does not constrain them, one has the problem of gambling.

As I said on the first day of the debate, I greatly admire the Minister. He is very good and able. Had the Bill been in other hands, I may not have given it such a smooth run and I may not have got such a smooth run for my money.

It was a real learning exercise and I wish the Minister great luck with it. Hopefully, I will not have the same argument with the Minister when it comes to other State assets, such as Coillte, on which the Minister might look more kindly. I wish the Minister the best of luck and thank him for his grace and mannerly language to me throughout the entire debate.