Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank everybody for coming in this morning. I will not address questions to everybody as we could be here all day, as Deputy Ó Caoláin noted, because the topics are so interesting. I thank everybody for their presentations and we will take them all on board.

Ms Edghill and the Irish Hospice Foundation do fantastic work and it is incumbent on us as a committee to try to ensure, in whatever way we can, that the €72 million is ring-fenced and untouched. We must also ensure there is a transition path from the voluntary funding servicing child palliative care services to sustainable funding, and each of us must take that on board.

I have specific questions for Mr. Harty and Mr. Daly. Although a "battle" may not be the right word, there is a struggle going on with regard to the care of more mature elderly people and those who suffer from disabilities. The merits of what is offered by the witnesses' organisations are unquestionable and second to none but if there was an amalgamation of budgets, could they describe how it could look? The organisations are competing for the right reasons, and there are good services offered that we need, although the vast majority of families would prefer to keep mothers, fathers, nannies and grandads at home for as long as possible. The two elements should not compete but rather be working in harmony. How would best practice look in an amalgamated world?