Mr. Joe Ryan:

We certainly appreciate the comments. The CEO is committed to working with communities and to involving them in our development of services. As we move towards the regions, accountability will be pushed even closer to local operations in a much more substantial way than it is today. The centre of the HSE will become a lighter influence on things. That is a positive step. It was envisaged in Sláintecare and it is being delivered. The CEO is determined to deliver that. It will change the nature of things and we will see much more of the kind of the local engagement that has been enjoyed in the west. We will look at the documentation and the responses. I give the Chair my commitment on that.

One or two little issues came up. On infection control and there not having been a case, we have to go on the guidelines given. We have to stay within those. When those guidelines are adjusted, as they were post pandemic, it changes the standards and formats as regards what we can set up within hospital and community spaces.

It is based on the risk of transmission rather than the history of transmission. We have to take that advice. If we do not, and someone is harmed then we will be back here accounting for something more serious.