DFI welcomes launch of the Partnership Principles which have to be lived rather than laminated

The Report of the Independent Review Group (IRG) established to examine the role of voluntary organisations in publicly funded health and personal social services was published in February 2019. A key finding in the Report was the need to improve the relationship between voluntary organisations and the State. At the time of publication of the Report, Minister Simon Harris announced his intention to establish a new Dialogue Forum. The first meeting of this Forum took place on 2 December 2019. 

The aim of the Forum is to build a stronger working relationship between the State and the voluntary healthcare sector for the benefit of patients and service users and to facilitate regular dialogue with the voluntary sector on future policy and strategic developments. The Forum is chaired by independent Chair Peter Cassells.

To support this work the Dialogue Forum has now published an agreed set of Partnership Principles. These principles were launched in Dublin on 3 April 2023 in the presence of members of the Dialogue Forum, the chair and the Minister for HEalth Stephen Donnelly. The launch also featured a panel discussion with Bernard Gloster, CEO of the HSE; Nicola Byrne, CEO of Shine and Member of Mental Health Reform; Muiris O'Connor, Assistant Secretary at the Department of Health; Michael Hennessy, CEO of the Brothers of Charity Services Ireland; and, Lucy Nugent, CEO of Tallaght University Hospital. 

DFI has been part of the Dialogue Forum since its inception and we were delighted to be part of the launch event. We very much welcome the Partnership Principles as an essential first step in bringing about a cultural change in the relationship between the health services and the voluntary sector. We look forward to seeing the application of the Partnership Principles in the development of the new Regional Health Areas. We also welcome the fact that the Partnership Principles give full recognition to the hybrid nature of our health services where voluntary organisations play an essential role.

Click here to view the case study findings presented at the launch 

Click here to read the Partnership Principles. 

ENDS