Ireland seems to have emerged as a country noted for its waiting lists, including for hospital services, health services, mental health services, transport and tourism services and airports. At every juncture, there seems to be an emergence of waiting lists to a greater extent. In that context, will the Minister encourage the Government in general to identify the most acute waiting lists in order to address them as a matter of urgency?

It is hard to pick but some of the cases we have heard here today, in particular parents or families with someone who needs healthcare immediately must be at the top of any waiting list, particularly if it is a disability. Some of the examples we heard earlier about children with disabilities and so on, would come to mind first. What might help us in that regard is if some of the risk assessment processes within the State could be adapted to performance measurement assessment within the State to ascertain where are the worst delays. An independent regular statutory review of the performance of the State in delivery of services might be good place to start.