Mr. Muiris O'Connor:

I have covered our own arrangements, what the term "deepening" means and the HSE's steering group.

As to whether we can give a guarantee to the people of Donegal that the arrangement relating to Altnagelvin will continue, that is absolutely our firm objective. It is an objective shared with the UK and with the services, the HSE and its counterpart in the North. The commitments agreed in December provide a favourable context for its continuation. The movement of people and their associated rights to access services on either side of the Border on an equivalent basis to residents and local citizens will very much help. It is underpinned by a service level agreement that was signed originally in 2014 for a period of at least 25 years. It is the outcome of a shared investment of capital to create the facility. It was always intended to be an ongoing part of our key service provision. It is the only way we can plan appropriately for highly specialist, time-critical services for the population of Donegal. That is understood by all and there is very strong commitment. The key in the next phase is to monitor, for example, the alignments that are necessary, even regarding matters such as radiation and the regulation of medicines, and the equivalence that would be desirable around the recognition of qualifications. We are confident that these will be sustained.