Charities provide approximately one-quarter of acute hospital services and approximately two-thirds of services to people with disabilities, so they are an integral part of the overall system.

“Humanitarian access to vulnerable people is absolutely vital, there must be safe, unrestricted passage of aid to all parts of Syria.”

The award was made to Sr Hilary, a member of the Missionary Sisters of the Holy Rosary, for her contribution to health services in Sierra Leone over 42 years.

“It is very important that no group should be discriminated against being able to give organs or indeed to give blood,” Archbishop Eamon Martin.

FleshandBlood (FaB) campaign launches in Dublin with the aim of mobilising parishes to become more actively involved in donating blood and organs.

"UNICEF report reveals shocking and frankly shameful data for Ireland": Fergus Finlay, CEO of Barnardos.