Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister. There is a Private Members' motion to be discussed tonight in that context and we can elaborate on it then. Much focus over the past fortnight has been on the ownership of St. Vincent's Hospital but we are ignoring the fact that the National Maternity Hospital is a voluntary hospital in itself. The Coombe, which is intending to transfer to St. James's Hospital, is also a voluntary hospital, as is the Rotunda, which is going to Connolly Hospital. The three maternity hospitals in Dublin are voluntary hospitals as well. This leads to the greater question in the context of the establishment of hospital groups and the statutory provision of underpinning them with boards. Where will the voluntary governance structure fit into the new hospital groupings if we are to continue with the proposals that the Government has announced on having a hospital group with a governing board overseeing it? Reference has been made to the National Maternity Hospital and the controversy that has flowed from that. It concentrates the mind to a certain extent that we can no longer ignore the fact that voluntary hospitals in the main are largely funded by the State and contracted to provide services to the State. The issue of divesting and ownership are key matters that can no longer be delayed or obfuscated for much longer.

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