Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The submission and the evidence we have heard from the Irish Cancer Society is probably the most concerning that has come before the committee to date because, essentially, the premise of it is that in the efforts to save lives from Covid-19, other patients' lives have been put at risk. Following on from Ms Morrogh's previous responses, I think she indicated to my colleague, Deputy Cullinane, that if urgent action is not taken, lives will be lost avoidably. Looking at the waiting times as outlined in her submission in respect of access to colonoscopies, for example, there is an indication that 1,000 people have been waiting longer than 28 days and 329 people have been waiting longer than 90 days. Is it a fair assumption to make that lives have already been lost as a result of the restrictive measures put in place in respect of cancer screening services, whether they have been lost or put at risk or will be lost?