Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I extend my deepest sympathies to the families and those who have lost family members as a result of Covid-19. It is very important that we acknowledge the pain and suffering of all those people, whether they were in public or private hospitals or nursing homes. All the people working in those facilities have put their lives and health on the line. It is very sad that thousands of people have caught this illness because of their work and commitment to people with the virus.

The expectation at the beginning of this crisis was that at the peak, in the worst scenario, 120,000 people per day could have been diagnosed with Covid-19.

Was that the reason the Department of Health did the deal, which I fully supported, to take on 100% of the capacity of the private hospitals to deal with those potential patients if that apocalyptic number materialised?