Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Briefly, on the constitution of St. Vincent's Healthcare Group, "human dignity" was mentioned and we have been told that is just a general lovely phrase.

I am curious. It is not a reference to human rights but a reference to dignity. There is an encyclical from 1965 on human dignity. We know the Human Dignity Alliance party was founded in Ireland after 2018 specifically with the goal of opposing the outcome of the referendum on the repeal of the eighth amendment. Human dignity is a term that has been interpreted through Catholic social teaching, whereas human rights are a little clearer in that we all know the associated documents. With regard to the phrasing in question in the new constitution of St. Vincent's Healthcare Group, the question of where clinical direction comes from is extremely relevant.

The St. Mary's site has not been discussed. Could we purchase it? In that context, is it the case that St. Vincent's Healthcare Group would not support or work with us if we purchased the St. Mary's site, which is adjacent? I have been very concerned by the idea that somehow it is acceptable for the group to say it will not work with the public hospital but only with a charitable hospital. Could a hospital on the adjacent St. Mary's site access St. Vincent's hospital very quickly in an emergency? Would that not be a possible solution?