Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Tá mé buíoch as an deis labhairt ar an rún tábhachtach seo. Ba mhaith liom mo chuid buíochais a ghabháil le Teachta Louise O'Reilly as ucht an rún a chur faoi bhráid na Dála. Iarraim tacaíocht ó achan Teachta don rún os ár gcomhair. The decision by the Government to give ownership of the new national maternity hospital to the Sisters of Charity has justifiably manifested itself in massive public concern and anger particularly, though not exclusively, among women.

It is unacceptable that any religious ethos should determine clinical decisions. The hospital should be held in public ownership and have legally guaranteed independence from all non-medical influence in its clinical operations within the laws of the State. This is a hospital which must carry out treatments such as in vitrofertilisation, IVF, sterilisation, gender reassignment surgery and, in some cases, termination. The notion that the Sisters of Charity must be given ownership of the hospital simply because they own the land is absolute nonsense. There are, as others have said, other options available to the Government and this motion, which will now be passed, will compel the Government to explore these options.

The priority must be to get the hospital built as soon as possible on terms acceptable to citizens, particularly women. We cannot continue with a situation where women and babies are treated in antiquated buildings that are not fit for purpose. Equally, we cannot continue with the situation where our maternity hospitals are operating at dangerously low staffing levels, where women are treated on corridors and where overcrowding and a lack of resources result in tragedy and upset. That is why a key component of this motion is to ensure that the national maternity strategy is implemented and properly funded.

The Minister for Health now needs to act with the utmost urgency to sort out the mess that surrounds the national maternity hospital. I acknowledge his remarks this evening and look to him to deliver on his commitments. I also welcome the withdrawal by the Government of its amendment to this motion.

I met Ms Vera Twomey this evening who is hoping to meet the Minister for Health. I appeal to the Minister to meet her, even if only for ten minutes before he leaves the House this evening. The Minister is a decent person and he should not leave these premises without speaking to this woman, even for ten minutes.

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