Annie Hoey (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I welcome our guests and thank them for coming in. I am seeking clarity on an issue. In 2011 the HSE found that the SVHG sought funding for a private development. This came to light through the Committee of Public Accounts. It seems that security for the loan was some form of charge or lien over all of the land there, including the public hospital. The HSE found that while technically no rules were broken, it was not appropriate to be using State assets to fund a private institution. This is not so much a question about the fear that this could happen again because things have changed and the rules are much more stringent now but regarding the land that is currently in question, which is part of the overall land bank, is that still the subject of some form of charge or lien as security for the bank debt? Is this particular piece of land involved in that? One of the conditions of the bank debt is that the debtor shall not sell, gift or dispose of any assets against which the debt is secured. Can the representatives of St. Vincent's clarify whether there is any lien on this particular piece of land. If so, how would that affect the new hospital?