Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

I have a few questions for Professor Higgins. We all recognise the outstanding work that is done in Holles Street. I had my children there and my grandson was born there. I have the height of regard for the hospital. The fact that 95% of patients express satisfaction with it is a tribute to the staff and to the fact it is an independent hospital established by charter and has 100 governors. Its status will change significantly under the new arrangement whereby it will go from being an independent hospital to a wholly-owned subsidiary of a bigger hospital. That is the governance arrangement. Is there concern about that?

On the term "clinically appropriate", we are looking for a definition. The Minister has stated that he will provide one. We look for it to be written into all of the legal documents because those documents are littered with that ambiguous phrase. Professor Declan Keane said recently he would welcome a definition in the documents including a list of the services but not limited to those services. Would Professor Higgins welcome that? Is he looking for that definition?

This will need various approvals. We are not or should not be up against it next Tuesday. There are many other stages to go through, one of which is the approval of the governors. When does Professor Higgins expect to bring a proposal to his governors? What is the timescale in that regard?

The business case would look at birth rate and that kind of thing and whether it stacks up to have this move. What role has Holles Street had in the preparation of that business case, which, we note, has not been signed off?