We have talked about what is quite simply a Fianna Fáil stroke by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to table a last-minute amendment that will allow political parties to raise money through a lottery licence. Of course, the reason he is doing that is because that practice is currently illegal. Back in the 1980s, the Taoiseach will remember that Fianna Fáil was brought all the way to the Supreme Court by An Garda Síochána to prove it was neither a charity nor a philanthropic body.

Recognising the Minister’s amendment will make this legal for the first time, I have very specific questions for the Taoiseach. Will he explain to the House how Fianna Fáil raised more than half a million euro last year through a lottery licence? Did his party mislead the courts? Given the conditions of such a licence, which stipulate that money should go to charity, has Fianna Fáil now handed that money over to a charitable cause? These are very specific questions. I hope I get specific answers.

I would very much appreciate transparent answers from the Deputy’s good self-----

We have spoken about it.

-----on his party’s fundraising activities over the past 20, 25 or 30 years. I do not think it would bear too much public scrutiny. Anything Fianna Fáil has raised over recent years has been within the law.

No, it has not.

No, it has not. Fianna Fáil is changing the law to facilitate it.

Wait now. No, no. Resume your seat.

On a point of order, a Cheann Comhairle, I have asked the question in respect of-----

Resume your seat, Deputy.

A Cheann Comhairle, may I make a point of order?

No, you may not. Resume your seat.

I have a point of order.

There is no point of order on these lines. Resume your seat.

I would like to make a point of order that the Taoiseach has clearly misled this House.

Please do not accuse anybody of misleading the House. Resume your seat.

They are changing the law to make it legal. They raised half a million last year illegally.

Has Fianna Fáil given it to charity?

Resume your seat, Deputy, please.

Has it given the money back to charity?

Resume your seat.

That is the law.

Please, Deputy.

The law is they have to give that money to charity. They have to abide by the law.

Please, Deputy. I call Deputy Mac Lochlainn.

He is not answering. The Taoiseach is refusing to answer the question, a Cheann Comhairle.

Maybe he could also explain why the permit, the lottery licence, which is supposed to be available in the court, is not available in the court.

Deputy, you are not Deputy Mac Lochlainn. I have called Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn.