Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I wish to be clear on this aspect. Ms Murphy mentioned the fact of the hospital clause. Again, actually, nobody has disputed that as the permitted use. I refer to a maternity, gynaecological and obstetrical municipal hospital. The particular issue highlighted was the phrase "clinically appropriate". I would appreciate our guests commenting on this aspect, in respect of their preference regarding its removal or definition. If we have a definition, then I am concerned that it will not simply be a matter of which services are provided, but of which services and when they are provided. I say that because it is one of the key concerns we have. For example, I refer to a situation where certain services may be theoretically available, but perhaps not practically available because of a particular policy or ethos or clinical direction. I would like to hear our guests' preferences in this regard. I refer to references to "all clinical" services and it being read that way by our guests. The fact that it was read this way is already a strong signal that there is an issue with this aspect. I refer to lawyers reading these documents and understanding them completely differently, as well as the legal line in the next few years.

Regarding any building, any hospital, on the premises, is it not the case that it will be the property of St. Vincent's holding group in 299 years? Is it also not the case, because we have this obligation, and it has been taken on, to continue to build a hospital - and Deputy Shortall asked about the business case in this context earlier - and therefore we are looking at a situation whereby there will be four or five successive maternity hospitals to be built on the site, with the accompanying costs from doing so? Is it not the case in that context that we would revert to a market rent of €850,000, perhaps in 70 years' time? It was mentioned that it was felt it would be time to move on in this context in 100 years. What happens then in 70 years' or 100 years' time if a new hospital wishes to move-----