I thank the Deputy. I have three names, left, two of whom are present. I will allow in the two speakers. Unless I am unaware of something, the speakers will be na Teachtaí Tóibín and Verona Murphy.

I am substituting for Deputy McNamara.

I am afraid that is not possible without notification, as much as I would like to oblige. I have a list in front of me here. I call an Teachta Tóibín, who will be followed by Deputy Verona Murphy.

I welcome the fact that the Minister for Health has said that the bypass will not proceed in its entirety, although I am still significantly concerned that a bypass will happen. This is an amazing situation. On two occasions this year, the HSE has issued press statements saying that it will do things and saying that it has had the authority of the Minister when it did not. The Minister has had to rap the HSE on the knuckles and stop what it is doing. It is out of control. My worry, as the chair the Save Navan Hospital campaign, is that the space for some bypass of the emergency department will be extended and abused by the HSE. Is it not time that the executive was brought to book? Is it not time that the management of the HSE, who are disrespecting the authority of the Minister are sacked?

Page 45 of the programme for Government details the importance of primary and community care as being at the heart of Sláintecare.

Little baby Jacob from Wellingtonbridge was born in February of this year with complex medical needs and requires 24-hour nursing care. Jacob has undergone three heart surgeries this year and his family are now at breaking point. His parents are struggling to care for him. After five months, Jacob was approved for HSE night nursing but he is now nine months old and none has materialised. The HSE has offered various excuses but no care has been put in place. Will the Minister and his Government stand by their commitments in the programme for Government and will someone, please, take responsibility and deliver on the care? This family has five other children.

I will start with Deputy Murphy's question. It would break one's heart to hear about baby Jacob. If I understand the Deputy correctly, the support package has been sanctioned but is not being implemented. It could well be the case that the HSE is finding it difficult to get the staff through an agency or directly-employed HSE staff. However, we will follow up on that case. A note has been taken on it. If the Deputy provides Jacob's date of birth, address and contact details, I assure her we will follow up on the case and do the best we can to try to resolve it.

I thank Deputy Tóibín for raising the issue of the bypass protocol. As he will be aware, an ambulance bypass protocol is already in place for patients who suffered a stroke, heart attack or major trauma and those in need of paediatric and obstetric care. From 12 December, the existing ambulance bypass protocols in place for Navan will be updated to address urgent patient safety matters for patients who are critically or seriously unwell, or likely to deteriorate. Contrary to some reports, the emergency department in Navan will not close this month. From 12 December, patients who are acutely ill will no longer be brought to Navan by ambulance. Instead, they will be taken to the nearest appropriate hospital, depending on their condition. This is an important patient safety measure and will help minimise delays in providing life-saving treatment to acutely ill patients. However, it is not the wider ambulance bypass protocol that had been suggested.