Ms Barbara O'Connell:

I echo Ms Condon's point. In our work, we have met real champions within the HSE. However, one of the big challenges is that, although we are funded by the HSE, our staff are not paid the same as its staff to do the same work and, therefore, there is an element of not being valued and no recognition. Paying the same amount implies people do the same or similar work. They should be paid the same amount. That is a big issue.

The second issue is that while there are often great people working with us, access to decision-makers is very difficult. We find it is a real challenge to get to the person who can make the decision that will make the difference. It is often a very big challenge. We have had to engage political support to try to get to the decision-makers to make our easily implemented proposal that would save the HSE millions of euro. It is really difficult. It seems crazy and contradictory, but that is the reality of it.