Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

What the Deputy said has widespread implications for the role of the community and voluntary sector in providing services. That role has been very valuable and is hugely valued by our communities. We have some excellent services. The idea that every service would solely be in the charge of, and run by, the State would require a great deal of consideration and might not even be desirable. What we need are clear governance arrangements and clear partnership where there is that mix of the public and private sectors. To suggest moving to a model that is one dimensional would be very extreme. As I said, the Minister is examining that mix in the health service. However, it would have huge implications and huge budgetary implications, as the Deputy knows. The Deputy has raised a topic on which there will undoubtedly be more discussion, but I believe the mix we have in the country at present is valuable. A complete separation sounds like an extreme response to the situation we have been discussing in some of our services.

See this speech in context