The Lotto watchdog has refused to say what oversight, if any, it has over National Lottery prizes after the operator admitted a number of jackpots were left off its scratch cards.

Three women out of 10 who had taken cases against the State in circumstances similar to Vicky Phelan have died, it emerged yesterday.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar’s plan to refund €170m in water charges has been undermined by confusion among ministers as to how and when it will happen.