Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

If I might put the focus back on the patient again. If you have a crowded A&E anywhere in the country that is crowded in the morning, in the afternoon and in the evening, and sometimes has to restart again the following day or overnight, very often overnight, public confidence in the system is not helped by that and it is therefore important to identify the precise reasons. The numbers have to be dealt with in any event, it is just that it takes longer to deal with them if there are certain conditions in place. What are those conditions that are impeding the progress? Is it too few hospital doctors? Is it too few doctors on duty at a time? Is it too few doctors available? Are there are any other reasons why the patient should not be dealt with much more speedily?