Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The National Maternity Hospital, Holles Street, is an excellent institution providing wonderful care for women in this country. The current facility is not fit for purpose. The idea of having stand-alone maternity hospitals is not in compliance with our national maternity strategy or best international norms. It makes sense to co-locate maternity hospitals with adult acute hospitals for the times when, sadly, things go wrong during pregnancy.

There are three issues that need to be addressed. The Deputy is right that the charitable status of St. Vincent's Healthcare Group must be sorted out, giving effect to the fact that the nuns have said they are leaving. I cannot comment on where that is at, but the matter needs to be resolved. The second issue is making sure there is a robust and modern governance system in place that sees the State having a seat at the table. The third issue public ownership. We need to know who owns the building to ensure there are safeguards in place because, frankly, they are not in place today. In that way, if the Minister of the day or any future Minister has any concerns, and I am not envisaging they would, they can say to the taxpayer and, more important, to the women of Ireland who are also taxpayers, that they have powers and leverage that people would expect them to have in a 21st century republic.

I believe this matter can be resolved and we can reach agreement in the coming weeks. However, I will not be backed into a corner by anybody who suggests that I should ask for anything less for the State or women, particularly after all that has happened in this country in the past year.

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