Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

I was fascinated listening to the conversation between the Minister for Health and Deputy Billy Kelleher. I regard it as a conversation because there was a lot of agreement. I think I counted the number of times they both used the phrase "Conversation has to be had". A conversation has to be had. The Minister needs to have a very loud, honest and public conversation with the people and explain to them why he has an agreement with a religious order to run the new National Maternity Hospital and will allow it ownership of the hospital. Some €300 million of our money is to be used to build the hospital. I ask the Minister to outline how he can justify this and ensure it will provide proper facilities to ensure women's health in the future, including abortion.

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