David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Group 5 covers amendments Nos. 8 and 9. Contrary to certain media coverage, my original proposal in section 12 was entirely motivated by the need to ensure in law, for the first time, that the charitable or philanthropic cause lottery licence holder benefitted significantly from the proceeds. Some doubts had arisen as to whether this was so, particularly where a commercial agent had been engaged to operate the lottery. Lottery licences concern a weekly prize fund from €5,001 to €30,000, or a single annual prize amount of €360,000. I insisted on a minimum of 25% of the proceeds going to the charitable or philanthropic cause. I am pleased that all Deputies and, earlier, Senators agreed with that approach. Previously, the law required no mandated benefit to such causes. It only referred to a maximum of 40% of the proceeds being allowed for expenses. I accepted an amendment on Report Stage in the Dáil to the effect that the lottery can allocate up to 75% of the proceeds to prizes.Previously, I had proposed that up to 50% of proceeds could be allocated in this way. I have no fundamental issue with this new provision. I had proposed that a maximum of 25% of proceeds could be used to meet the expenses involved in the lottery. Such a provision, which marks a reduction on the previous level of 40%, is still included in the section as it stands.