Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Professor Higgins very much for his presentation here this evening, and all the witnesses for making their time available and for their contribution to progressing this project. I know that they are all very busy. We heard earlier from Mr. Simon McGarr, a solicitor, who outlined that under the 299-year lease the buildings will not belong to the State but to the St. Vincent's Hospital Group. One of the reasons he says that is due to the use of the term "permitted use". He says there are restrictions on what can be done within the hospital because of that clause in the lease. I would like clarification about ownership of the building and what level of restrictions will be on the new NMH when it takes up occupation of the building on its completion.