Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)

As I have read the answer already in The Irish Times I am uncertain whether I have anything additional to extract. This commitment was made in the autumn of 2004 and subsequently, Members have asked the Taoiseach about it a number of times. My understanding is that notwithstanding the front page story in The Irish Times, nothing has happened. For example, Dr. Diarmuid Martin, Archbishop of Dublin, expressed some disappointment at the General Humbert Summer School that this commitment had not been followed through.

The Taoiseach made reference to bilateral meetings and so on. He and the former Tánaiste had a bilateral meeting with the leaders of the Church of Ireland concerning the status of Tallaght hospital in respect of matters relating to the decision to locate the new national children's hospital on the site of the Mater Hospital. Concerns were expressed directly to the Taoiseach and the then Tánaiste about the ethos and values enshrined in the charter of Tallaght hospital. I believe the meeting took place on 29 June and the senior churchmen present expressed concern to the Taoiseach regarding the dilution of the charter and a downgrading of the hospital itself. Can the Taoiseach say anything to reassure the Church of Ireland in this regard?

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