I raise the concern expressed by hundreds of thousands of national lottery players who have supported a good cause for many years and whose confidence has wavered in recent times by virtue of the main prize having been rolled over for almost six months. It is a precedent which was set in 1913 in Monte Carlo and later in Las Vegas. Given the important work done by the national lottery and the public confidence needed to support it, I suggest it is appropriate to refer the matter to the Committee on Budgetary Oversight and the Minister, with the possibility of the regulator appearing before the committee to expedite the review already in hand in the Minister's Department.

I have noted of late Deputy Durkan's tenacity and persistence on the issue of the lottery and the need for somebody to win the prize. It could be taken up by the Joint Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach. I think the Deputy is a member. It should invite the regulator which governs the licensing of the lotto. We all have high estimations of ourselves but my capacity to produce a winner in the lottery is something that I do not think is in my grasp right now. However, I wish Deputy Durkan continued success in his efforts to achieve this.