Dublin plans to auction lottery licence

Ireland published an 'innovative' plan on the 4 April 2012 to sell a long-term national lottery licence. The licence, which had been held by the Irish post office since the lottery was launched in 1987, would be offered over a 20-year period to the highest bidder in a competition expected to raise €400m to €600m for the exchequer.

Some noted the irony that Ireland's economic woes was partly due to the debts run up by the gambling of property developers and bankers in the previous decade.

Irish Times, 5.4.12: Good causes to receive smaller share of lottery funds http://www.irishtimes.com/news/good-causes-to-receive-smaller-share-of-lottery-funds-1.495083?mode=sample&auth-failed=1&pw-origin=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.irishtimes.com%2Fnews%2Fgood-causes-to-receive-smaller-share-of-lottery-funds-1.495083

ESO: Background information: Irish watchdog calls for more austerity http://www.europeansources.info/record/irish-watchdog-calls-for-more-austerity/

ESO: Background information: Irish house prices plunged 18% last year http://www.europeansources.info/record/irish-house-prices-plunged-18-last-year/

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