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

I am aware that the Tánaiste, the Taoiseach, the Minister for Health, all members of the Cabinet and every Member of this House has received expert legal counsel from senior counsel, Stephen Dodd, in regard to the national maternity hospital and the possibility of it being constitutional for the State to compulsorily purchase the lands on which it sits. The senior counsel argues that the matter is of such importance to the State, there is a legitimate State interest in achieving certainty which can only be secured by the State having full control through ownership of the relevant land and assets currently in the ownership of the Religious Sisters of Charity. Is the Tánaiste aware of the legal opinion? Has the Government discussed it and when will we see movement on this issue?

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