Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank all the Senators for their very kind comments. There is no doubt that sport is the common denominator that brings everybody together. All the Members spoke positively about sport. I will try to answer some of the queries that were raised, but if I do not cover them all, I will return at some other stage. Some very good points were made. A reference was made to the betting tax and that was the reason for establishing the national lottery. We thought the proceeds from the lotto would go to sport, but it now goes into central government. My Department, like every other Department, must fight for its share of the money. The sport with the highest level of betting is soccer. The Senator is quite correct that the betting tax is going into the racing industry. Senator Bradford and I clashed over this issue many years ago. There should be equality. I think if funding is going into horseracing, it should go into every other sport as well.