The Health Minister says there are dozens of people every day waiting on trolleys for more than 24 hours.

Leo Varadkar and the HSE say theyÂ’'re working hard at solving the overcrowding problem in emergency departments.

But the Irish Medical Organisation says as winter approaches, weÂ’re facing a tsunami of problems.

Juliette Gash reports:

Meanwhile another cabinet minister says Gardaí are investigating claims of a sexual assault against one elderly woman at an Emergency ward in Tipperary.

Brendan Howlin was taking Leaders' Questions in the Dáil as opposition TDs heaped blame on the government for the conditions in emergency departments.

Sinn Féin's finance spokesman says the government was warned on Budget night that overcrowding was inevitable because of its plans for health spending.

Our political correspondent Gavan Reilly reports.