Professor Jane Grimson:

The key to our thinking in this regard is the need for mutual recognition that the €3.3 billion voluntary sector is an integral part of the way services are delivered in this country. Therefore, the involvement of the voluntary sector in the development of policies and strategies is absolutely critical. They are not out there but an integral part of the system. We are very taken by the fact that this can work very well. We saw the strengths of the voluntary sector in other countries. It is not the case that we have to say the State should take over everything. A great deal would be lost in going down that route. It works elsewhere and I think we can make it work here.