Mr. Paul Reid:

We are doing everything in our power to make sure that does not happen. We are finalising a suite of initiatives between the Department, the Minister and the board of the HSE that will target an approach in the very difficult period through winter to ensure that is not what happens. As Ms O'Connor stated, we are addressing some of the inpatient, outpatient and day-case waiting lists and, indeed, scopes that need to be addressed between now and year end.