A REVIEW of how the National Lottery spends its money was called for by Ms Kathleen Lynch (DL, Cork North Central).

She was concerned, she said, that there was no cap on its advertising budget, adding that she thought the amount of money spent on the millennium clock was "sinful".

People knew that even if it did work, it was not going to be a great attraction.

Ms Lynch also criticised the money spent on advertising the visit of the John F. Kennedy aircraft carrier. "What was the National Lottery doing promoting, as described in the advertisements, the greatest killing machine in the world?"

She was speaking during the resumed debate on the PD private member's motion calling for the setting up of an independent charitable trust to control the distribution of National Lottery funds. The party's spokeswoman on equality and law reform, Ms Helen Keogh, said that lottery games might be played by the people, but the proceeds of those games had become the playthings of politicians.

The PD motion, which was opposed by the Government, was defeated by 72 votes to 51.