Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank both groups for their clear presentations. There was an awful lot of overlap with our meeting of two weeks ago. A lot of the points made by both groups today were also made two weeks ago to this committee. I am concerned about the level of consultation and also about what is viewed as consultation. It appears that the points raised in the so-called dialogue were not taken on board. The role of the volunteer is key, as the last two speakers have stressed. I must compliment the citizens information service in County Clare. It is run very well and the service provided is wonderful. I have regular engagement with it.

We must consider the impact this will have on the service user. We must also consider the issue of volunteers leaving the service, as Mr. McGuane said earlier.

What level or type of fall-away in volunteers are the services experiencing? Is the phenomenon of people walking away from the services widespread, even at this early stage prior to implementation of the proposal?

We need to try to address the whole issue. Is there some way to bring all stakeholders together to try to have proper meaningful dialogue? Has this been proposed by the groups before the committee today? Many groups are involved. Surely, the groups could come together to try to convince the Citizens Information Board to consider the matter. There is so much opposition from the groups before the committee today and so many points have been made and remade that surely the whole question needs to be revisited. I call on Mr. McGuane and Mr. Lally to address some of these points.