Results 21-40 of 43 for lottery speaker:Thomas Byrne

Seanad: Order of Business (7 May 2013)

Thomas Byrne: I am glad to see the National Lottery Bill will be debated today. We have had a week between Committee and Report Stages, which is a positive step for the Seanad. Will we debate No. 2?

Seanad: National Lottery Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (30 Apr 2013)

Thomas Byrne: One thing that has concerned me over the past number of years is the business of obtaining a licence or authorisation to sell lottery tickets. There have been some examples of shops that have not been able to get permission to sell lottery tickets. Any time I have made a representation on their behalf, the response has been less than satisfactory, to say the least. I always thought that...

Seanad: National Lottery Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (30 Apr 2013)

Thomas Byrne: ...are actually ring-fenced. It is all to do with a decision of the Government as to how it spends money out of the Exchequer, because the money that is supposedly for good causes goes from the lottery to the Exchequer and will continue to go the same route. This is specifically provided for in section 44, which refers to moneys being paid into the Central Fund and the Government then...

Seanad: National Lottery Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (30 Apr 2013)

Thomas Byrne: This whole idea that good causes were ever ring-fenced is not true. Good causes could never be provided for. The money from the lottery that was supposed to go to good causes goes straight into the Exchequer, or Central Fund, and can be spent by the Government under any of the headings. As I understand it, applying moneys under heading (d), health and the community, would not stop the...

Seanad: National Lottery Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (30 Apr 2013)

Thomas Byrne: ..., it is not what people would imagine when talking about good causes. They would have assumed it meant, for example, a specific cancer nurse providing a specific service funded by the national lottery, but I do not believe that is the way it operates in practice. I invite the Minister to enlighten me and tell me I am wrong. If he does, I will withdraw what I said.

Seanad: National Lottery Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (30 Apr 2013)

Thomas Byrne: ...are actually ring-fenced. It is all to do with a decision of the Government as to how it spends money out of the Exchequer, because the money that is supposedly for good causes goes from the lottery to the Exchequer and will continue to go the same route. This is specifically provided for in section 44, which refers to moneys being paid into the Central Fund and the Government then...

Seanad: National Lottery Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (30 Apr 2013)

Thomas Byrne: This whole idea that good causes were ever ring-fenced is not true. Good causes could never be provided for. The money from the lottery that was supposed to go to good causes goes straight into the Exchequer, or Central Fund, and can be spent by the Government under any of the headings. As I understand it, applying moneys under heading (d), health and the community, would not stop the...

Seanad: National Lottery Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (30 Apr 2013)

Thomas Byrne: ..., it is not what people would imagine when talking about good causes. They would have assumed it meant, for example, a specific cancer nurse providing a specific service funded by the national lottery, but I do not believe that is the way it operates in practice. I invite the Minister to enlighten me and tell me I am wrong. If he does, I will withdraw what I said.

Seanad: National Lottery Bill 2012: Committee Stage (30 Apr 2013)

Thomas Byrne: ...than the one the previous Government signed with the IMF. There was also a significant underspend on capital projects last year. When the Minister makes the point about needing this money from the lottery, he should look at the underspend in other budgets. Roads around the country, for example, are crumbling.

Seanad: National Lottery Bill 2012: Committee Stage (30 Apr 2013)

Thomas Byrne: ...to draw back in ministerial responsibility for matters that should be within his or her remit. It has been promised in terms of reform and it is a pity to see matters relating to the national lottery moving away from the scope of parliamentary questions. I listened to what the Minister had to say about the regulator coming before committees. The tabling of a parliamentary question in...

Seanad: National Lottery Bill 2012: Committee Stage (30 Apr 2013)

Thomas Byrne: On how the regulator will deal with the company which will hold the lottery lease, it seems that, as well as the disclosure of interest, there is a needs for some provision on the interaction of the regulator with the lottery company and how it will deal with that issue. It is inevitable that there will be massive communication between both sides. While it may not be a direct interest of...

Seanad: National Lottery Bill 2012: Committee Stage (30 Apr 2013)

Thomas Byrne: ...lines 23 and 24, to insert the following: “26. The Minister shall, within one month of the licence being awarded, bring forward a report outlining how the proceeds from the sale of the National Lottery licence shall be ring fenced for the purposes of meeting the cost of constructing the National Children's Hospital.”.

Seanad: National Lottery Bill 2012: Committee Stage (30 Apr 2013)

Thomas Byrne: ...to be carried out. The regulator would not be regulating a market as such but only one entity. I am concerned that if we set up an independent office, it would simply become a sub-office of the lottery company. It may be better to have someone who is completely independent and who will take a wider approach, because he is not dealing only with a lottery company. If such a person was...

Seanad: National Lottery Bill 2012: Committee Stage (30 Apr 2013)

Thomas Byrne: ...recruit staff, and the civil servant could possibly be given some other things to do. It is not that we are accusing people of corruption or suggesting they will act only in the interests of the lottery company or that they will do something wrong. Bank regulation is not the only example of regulatory capture. There are multiple examples of regulatory capture in various countries...

Seanad: National Lottery Bill 2012: Committee Stage (30 Apr 2013)

Thomas Byrne: ...lines 29 and 30, to insert the following:“4.The Minister shall, within one month of the enactment of this Act, bring forward a report outlining how the proceeds from the sale of the National Lottery licence shall be ring fenced for the purposes of meeting the cost of constructing the National Children's Hospital.”.

Seanad: National Lottery Bill 2012: Committee Stage (30 Apr 2013)

Thomas Byrne: ...move amendment No. 2: In page 6, between lines 29 and 30, to insert the following:"4. The National Treasury Management Agency shall manage that portion of the proceeds from the sale of the National Lottery Licence designated for the National Children's Hospital.".It goes to the heart of the Bill and our concerns about it that what we are relying on is a promise from Government, and...

Seanad: National Lottery Bill 2012: Committee Stage (30 Apr 2013)

Thomas Byrne: ...compelling. He is correct that if the State puts something out to tender, it must be advertised in Europe. There is no question of this. However, the Government does not have to put the national lottery to tender. There is no EU law which prevents the Government from operating it within a Department. EU procurement law is generally neutral on whether a state owns something. It could...

Seanad: National Lottery Bill 2012: Second Stage (24 Apr 2013)

Thomas Byrne: ...wants to put this legislation through. That is a fundamental obligation of Government. It should set out the options because there are other amendments to this Bill, not just regarding the national lottery, but also regarding the Gaming and Lotteries Act. I call on the Cathaoirleach to ask the Minister to withdraw his allegation about my being unprepared for this debate as the reason...

Seanad: National Lottery: Motion (13 Feb 2013)

Thomas Byrne: ...to the motion. We are more than happy to second it. The motion calls on the Minister to ensure ownership of the licence remains entirely in the State and people would expect this of their national lottery. It is generally the case with lotteries throughout the world, particularly in the United States, that they stay in their own areas and are seen as a badge of nationality. They are...

Seanad: National Lottery: Motion (13 Feb 2013)

Thomas Byrne: I can say I often raised the question as to why money was never ring-fenced. The money one pays for a national lottery ticket goes from the newsagent through An Post straight to the Exchequer. One then hopes a Minister will spend it on the good causes on which one expects it to be spent, but this is not the practical reality. I am very concerned about the lack of a legal commitment or a...