Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)

Consultative machinery is of course established in the legislation. In addition I reiterate the point I have already made. Services in this context often encompass advocacy. The Department funds a number of organisations in respect of their advocacy services. There is circularity in the conversation the Senator and I are having about this subject. Clearly the anxiety of Senators is that the voices of these organisations should be heard. However, in certain cases the Department of Health and Children through the relevant authorities pays for the voice of such organisations to be heard. This legislation is being introduced in the context of that practice. In this context the word "service" has a very wide meaning and is much wider than the provision of a particular service to a particular person.