asked the Minister for Finance whether, in light of the report of the all-party informal committee on the disbursement of the national lottery funds, he will propose to the Government changes in the manner of disbursement; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

19.

asked the Minister for Finance if the Government have considered the report of the all-party committee on the national lottery presented to him recently; if it is intended to implement the recommendations of the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

112.

asked the Minister for Finance if it is intended to accept and implement the interim report of the all-party committee on the national lottery.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 12, 19 and 112 together.

The report is currently being considered by the Government and I hope to be in a position to make a statement on the matter at an early date.

Would the Minister agree that it was deliberately decided by this House last term that the report would be prepared before the budget so that it would influence the budget debate? Is it not a pity that the Minister is not in a position, while the budget debate is in process, to indicate Government thinking as to whether the report is acceptable? Bearing in mind that a very senior member of the Minister's party, no less than the Leas-Cheann Comhairle, participated in this committee and agreed to its unanimous report, would the Minister agree that he should be in a position to indicate that the Government accept that the scandal of lottery fund abuse can be terminated in accordance with the proposals made by the all-party committee?

I received the report very close to the budget and I was extremely busy during those days in relation to it. There is a procedure to be gone through before submitting a report to Government for a final decision. That procedure is in place. As soon as the Government have an opportunity to consider it I will be making a statement on the matter. The budget debate is wide ranging and some of the funds collected in the budget are related to the lottery. This matter should not be precluded from the budget debate.

I should have called Deputy Sherlock earlier since he has a question tabled in respect of this specific matter. Apologies, Deputy.

As a member of that all-party committee, I am very disappointed that the Minister cannot indicate whether he is giving consideration to the recommendations of the committee, in view of the fact that they worked very hard to have the report submitted prior to the budget. From his initial perusal of the report, can the Minister give some indication that he is prepared to recognise the recommendations and implement them?

The Deputy will appreciate that I would not be so foolish as to anticipate and comment in advance on what the Government may decide.