Mr. Tony O'Brien:

I will answer the questions in reverse order. I have never declined the committee's call. I would advise the committee to call me sparingly on the following basis: an appearance such as this takes about a working day out of my life in terms of preparation and the time I spend here. I would not want the balance between the time I spend here and the time I spend out there, trying to sort out the problems, to be the wrong one. Obviously, however, at the committee's discretion, I will be here to answer its questions and brief it accordingly.

I will visit Waterford hospital next week. With regard to the issue of ambulances, there are certain protocol situations whereby emergency departments can be taken off call. These are predefined arrangements which would lead to ambulances taking patients to different locations. It should not, however, be the case that ambulances are turned away, having been sent, unless there is an off-call protocol in place. We will certainly examine that issue.

In regard to the build matters referenced in the answer, these are about the immediate in nature and relate to Galway hospital and South Tipperary General Hospital, for example. This is about refurbishing an area that was formerly a physiotherapy department, which has had to be relocated to another place to create 20 additional proper bed bays with full medical gases and so on. That work is under way. There are other major projects involving emergency departments, such as in Limerick, but what is in the question has more to do with immediate actions for this winter.