Aisling Dolan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome and support this Bill. It is about amending the Act. It will outlaw the use by private operators of the national lottery's activities to profit or otherwise make further betting offers. The national lottery supports good causes. Over 30 cent in each €1 is put towards good causes. Recently, I checked what the good causes were. One with which I was very familiar is the wonderful Lough Ree Lanesborough Angling Hub where the Lough Ree disability boat was funded. This is one of the first in the country and will allow people in wheelchairs or who have mobility access problems to take up sport. It is a phenomenal investment. What is even better is that it is in rural Ireland - places where one might not get the funds. Imagine having funding to develop a boat such as this, which is extremely popular and has a social enterprise behind it. Some of the other funding involves health, well-being, sport, heritage, arts and culture, youth and community. It is funding vulnerable groups such as people with special needs. There is an awful lot to be said about the funds coming from the national lottery because it is a lottery for the people of Ireland.

As has been pointed out, in this Bill, Senator Ward and colleagues have taken up the fight to say that private operators should not benefit from a fund that is there to support good causes. As a retailer, Senator Carrigy spoke very well. From a personal point of view, the present I usually get my dad is a lotto ticket so all I can say is that it is something to which a lot of people look forward. It brings a bit of joy into someone's life. I know it sounds crazy but in the past year and a half, he nearly jumped out of his seat when he won €20 on one of the tickets. I know it must be balanced but with the national lottery, there are limits. It is not available after 10 p.m. and I believe only €90 can be spent per day on the national lottery. It brings a bit of enjoyment - like the Galway Races - and it is for good causes. The measures in this Bill have been implemented in many other European states and we have perhaps lagged behind. Hopefully, we can rectify that now.