Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

It is expected that the co-located private hospitals will most likely open within three years of receiving planning permission. The board has approved the successful bidder status for Waterford, Cork, Limerick, Sligo and St. James's hospitals. The HSE and the board of St. James's Hospital are working with the preferred bidders to finalise the project arrangements for the sites.

St. James's Hospital is one of the bodies in question and there is no secret about this. It was stated clearly by the Minister for Health and Children. Legislation is needed to put all the bodies I have mentioned on a sound legal footing and it is therefore necessary.

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