The head of the HSE is due before the Oireachtas Health Committee this morning to address capacity issues in the health system this winter.
CEO Paul Reid is expected to tell politicians the massive increase in Covid-19 admissions is compounding pressure already on the health service.
Mr Reid will also warn of the additional pressure healthcare workers will face as emergency care is prioritised.
People Before Profit TD and member of the Health Committee, Gino Kenny, is afraid the health service won't be able to cope with a surge of hospitalisations.
"Theres no doubt that we're in the vortex of the fourth wave of Covid-19.
"It would seem that capacity and demand for ICU beds will only increase in the next 6-8 weeks.
"There's obviously huge, huge concerns that we will exceed the 300 ICU beds that we have at the moment, there has to be a plan B."
