Mr. Éamonn Donnelly:

People are a bit sick now but they are not as sick as they used to be in the 1970s when people died in their 60s but nobody knew the cause. People are now presenting with conditions that require more care so obviously one will have to consider an increase in staff numbers, and in the care industry with which I agree. Again, if one increased the HSE's staff headcount one might be in a different position. If one had a regionally accountable health service that delivered services at the heart of the community it would relieve the pressure on acute hospital care. Such a health service might be a better fit with multiannual budgeting and workforce planning, which is where we started the conversation.