The Chief Executive of the Health Service Executive has defended the performance of Ireland's emergency departments.
Professor Brendan Drumm said 94% of patients attending emergency departments are seen, treated and sent home within six hours.
Prof Drumm's comments came after a report from the Comptroller and Auditor General, which found the waiting time for admission was unsatisfactorily long in most cases.
The analysis found many problems persisting four years after the Health Minister described the crisis in Emergency Departments as a national emergency.
The numbers waiting over 12 hours for admission is increasing, and delays in diagnostic services and key decision making continue.
Speaking on RTÉ Radio's This Week programme, Prof Drumm said expanding diagnostic services remains a challenge.
Radiographers said they have already committed to expanding diagnostic service hours, but the HSE has done nothing about it.
Meanwhile, doctors have said Ireland has only a fifth of the number of emergency consultants required to allow around the clock decision making.
