Mr. Robert Watt:

I thank the Deputy for his comments at the start. As Mr. Reid and I have set out this morning and in the report the Minister published yesterday, Sláintecare is delivering significantly now in terms of reform and the level of activity delivered by the system. It will continue to deliver. However, there are structural problems in relation to the capacity in the public system which create issues around trolleys, and there is a significant structural issue around waiting lists, where public patients have to wait too long for treatments. A key objective of the plan is to address those concerns through a variety of actions and improve the performance of the system. That is what we are doing. Our focus is to continue to improve the performance of the system. Can any of us give guarantees that we will have no waiting lists or people waiting on trolleys? Of course we cannot, given the change in our demography and the change in demand. I am confident that we are delivering and, with the support of the Minister and the Government, will continue to deliver for patients and our citizens.