Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I accept the Minister's commitment but I cannot accept that it is not going into the legislation. I will cut to the chase on this. The funding for the construction of the national children's hospital is not going to be required until 2017 or 2018. Neither the Minister nor I know whether we will be Members of this House, not to mention members of Government, at that stage. While the Minister's bona fides are not in question, he cannot tie the hands of a Minister who will be in Government in three or four years time, when it comes to finding the money for the national children's hospital. His good words should be legally binding on the Minister in three or four years time, when the funding is required. I cannot accept that we cannot include this in legislation. The Minister has given the weakest excuse I have ever heard, that the Parliamentary Counsel says that it is not appropriate because when the next licence is to be issued, the reference to the national children's hospital will not apply. That will happen 20 years from now and I think the Oireachtas will be well capable of amending the legislation, if necessary. I have already moved amendment No. 3, which is being discussed with amendments Nos. 4 and 24 and wish to inform the Minister that I will be calling a vote when we reach amendment No. 4.

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