Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I confirm I am in Leinster House 2000. I thank the Minister for being present, for his opening statement and for all the work he, his Department and front-line staff are doing.

I wish to make a few points.

The Minister stated, "my preference is for the State to own the land on which the new national maternity hospital will be built". The trustees of the Religious Sisters of Charity claim that they are under a legal obligation to enforce the values of Mother Mary Aikenhead, who passed away 163 years ago this month. I am not quite sure what she would have made of the angling taking place this morning or of the overall debate on this matter. Mother Mary Aikenhead has been described as "one of nursing's greatest leaders". With the greatest respect, I do not imagine that she wants to enforce any of her values in respect of this matter from the grave. She would very much want to see a hospital built as quickly as possible. The Minister has stated many times this morning that there will be clinical and operational independence. However, despite how good Mother Mary Aikenhead may have been in the context of leading charity and nursing, I do not believe that she should still dictate from her grave what happens with health policy in 2021.

A CPO process must still form part of the discourse. It has been estimated that it could cost in the region of €50 million. I do not imagine that the Minister will be able to answer my next question, but it would be brilliant if he could. Much of what happens with this issue will come down to pounds, shillings and pence. If a CPO process were to cost the State €50 million, we must then juxtapose that amount with the reality of the cost of leasing this land for 150 years. Therefore, a leasehold fee greater than €330,000 annually would, on a simple calculation, make it sensible to just go out and buy this land. CPO processes are complicated, but if we consider the relative bang per buck for the State and the taxpayers, then paying an annual leasehold greater than €330,000 would, I think, necessitate buying the land outright for the State. That would also secure independence and everything else in this regard. I ask the Minister to comment on that aspect. Does he know the cost of the annual leasehold fee, or is that sensitive information and off the cards here?