Mr. Paul Reid:

On the first part regarding the National Ambulance Service, we have enhanced investment in that service at a wider level both in terms of resources and the fleet. That is the strategy that has been brought forward to us and we will continue to invest resources. Specifically on this proposal, the National Ambulance Service and management teams have worked with us to put in place the required enhanced National Ambulance Service, including advanced paramedics, to support the investment for this realignment that will happen.

I will of course continue to engage, as will our teams, with the Oireachtas but I will restate that I cannot compromise. I will not walk away from what I have on my table, and the Department has on its table, which it is working very closely with us on, namely, patient safety risks, patient lives and patient safety. I will not walk away from that. I have to progress the actions to strengthen Navan hospital to address some of those major risks we see. We will come back and continue to engage through the Minister and the process but we cannot walk away, and I will not walk away, from what has to be done in that regard.