Dr. Thomas Conefrey:

On the wages side, we used the assumptions in the Lansdowne Road agreement for 2018 and, therefore, we have the same figures as the Department. In terms of whether these pressures are avoidable, the Government could bring in policies to increase spending below what would be needed to keep in line with inflation. It could bring in non-pay costs in the Department of Health and bring in measures or identify efficiencies that result in spending increases below the rate of inflation.