A €600,000 raffle run by Fianna Fáil is set to go ahead after it was granted a licence reserved for charities.
Under new legislation, only charities and philanthropic groups such as sports clubs and community groups can obtain a lottery licence.
But Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue says the license was granted to the party lawfully:
"The courts decide on every application brought before them in line with the legislation that is there.
"The party acted appropriately at all times, took legal advice in terms of the running of our draw.
"That legal advice indicated we would need a licence for the running of our draw, which we applied for and the court then decided on and granted."
