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