In the past few days we have had various comments from Ministers on both sides of the Government about solidarity in Government and the need for collective responsibility. Yesterday, the Minister for Defence informed the House that he had come from a very businesslike Cabinet meeting and that social inclusion was fundamental to this Government's philosophy. Yesterday evening, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform stated that nobody has a monopoly on compassion or conscience. Will the Tánaiste explain how that philosophy of social inclusion and having both a conscience and compassion fits in with a situation where the Carmichael House centre in North Brunswick Street is to close on 9 July? As she will be aware, this centre provides a central headquarters for 44 voluntary organisations and reaches out to 400,000 people nationally. They need a grant of €150,000 from the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs but it is not being given to them.

The Tánaiste will be aware that this centre was opened by the Taoiseach on 17 May and at the opening he said that with such support in place, voluntary groups can concentrate their energies on what they do best — serving people. This centre has served people for many years. It is a central headquarters for organisations like the Irish Polio Association, the Motor Neurone Disease Association and many others and they now have to issue redundancy notice to staff. Will the Tánaiste confirm that she will personally examine this case in view of the Government's stated position of care, compassion and conscience and confirm to the House that this centre will not close on 9 July, rendering many charitable and voluntary organisations redundant from the valuable work they do?

I share Deputy Kenny's concern in regard to Carmichael House and I can confirm that the centre will not close. As Deputy Kenny is aware, the centre currently gets approximately €600,000, mainly from Government sources, and the Department of Health and Children recently announced that an additional €150,000 would be provided for the centre. The Minister for Health and Children and the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs are currently in discussions and they intend to meet with representatives of Carmichael House with a view to ensuring the facility will not be closed. I share the view expressed by Deputy Kenny of the extraordinarily valuable work the centre does for vulnerable and marginalised citizens in our society.

I thank the Tánaiste for confirmation that the centre will not close and that discussions are ongoing between Carmichael House staff and the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. I am not sure whether the Tánaiste has ever had contact with a person who died as a consequence of motor neurone disease. I had such contact recently and in respect of the service these people provide from these voluntary organisations, I urge the Tánaiste to ensure that those discussions conclude positively and that moneys are made available to this centre to continue its enormously valuable voluntary and charitable work. The amount required is only one tenth of what was allocated to the equestrian centre in Punchestown. In thanking the Tánaiste for this confirmation, I urge her to ensure that a positive conclusion is brought about, that these staff do not leave on 9 July and that they can continue the valuable work in which they are involved.

I am aware of a family where somebody died from motor neurone disease and I know of the horrific impact it has, not just on the sufferer but on the entire family. I will use my best endeavours, as will the Government, to ensure this facility does not close and that it continues to operate to its full potential for those who need it most.