Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The appeals process which the Minister has asked St. Joseph's to exhaust puts it in a position whereby it is potentially legally compromised. It is a three-month appeals process. The Minister said it can be expedited.

That is great but if it starts trading next year with a known deficit and no letter of comfort or agreement in place, it is in a difficult position. I ask the Minister, his officials or the NTPF - whatever the right group is - to engage with the board in a meaningful way before it meets next week and provide it with some comfort. It might be short-term financial comfort - whatever it is - so that it can at least trade through the appeal process without contravening the laws regarding boards of directors.