Mr. John Dolan:

The Deputy mentioned the unions. I am not up to date with the numbers. At one stage we had as many trade unions as Germany had and that was after efforts in Ireland to get unions to amalgamate. The Deputy asked if that is the right way to go about it. Organisations working hand in glove is the key issue. We all now have something we did not have until recently. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is the glue that pulls us all together, particularly now that the Government has ratified the convention. Government agencies, Departments and bodies can now say that is the bible we all have to work towards and with which we wholeheartedly agree. That would have a major unifying effect.

Deputy Colm Burke and I both served on the Oireachtas health committee. He will be aware of the number of small, new support groups that emerge when the diagnosis for a condition, a spectrum or whatever becomes possible. Where will they fit in? The Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association was set up over 30 years ago. Those involved approached two existing organisations at the time and asked to work with them. That was not possible because it would have opened up a whole focus on other organisations doing the same thing.

One of the fundamental rights in Bunreacht na hÉireann is the right to form associations and unions.

The issue is how we can get them to work more cohesively together.