Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

In December 2018, the Minister for Health announced that agreement had been reached with St. Vincent's Healthcare Group for the Sisters of Charity to withdraw completely from that operation. He said it was guaranteed that the new National Maternity Hospital would be retained in public ownership and with public ethos. Eleven months later, that agreement has yet to be finalised. We were promised the legal documents early in 2019, but no legal documents are available. In recent days, we have learned that this agreement will require the approval of the Vatican if it is to proceed. Does the Taoiseach accept that it was reckless of the Government to commit €43 million to the first phase of this hospital while it is still essentially in the private ownership of the Sisters of Charity? Can he give the House a guarantee that no further public money will be spent on the new National Maternity Hospital until that agreement has been absolutely signed and sealed?

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