Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

This has gone on too long. It has gone on far too long for the well-being of women in particular. I read the recent correspondence from consultants who are adamant. Everybody who has anything to do with this is adamant that all procedures, operations, diagnostics and everything allowable in this country will take place in this maternity hospital. What worries me is that from the time of decision, because of all of the discussions that have ensued in the past year with the stakeholders, we will then have to get to design, then tender and then get the hospital built. This will take its own time. The balance is not in the debate at that moment. This is genuinely my sense of it. The Minister will bring forward a memorandum to the Government that we will bring before the House where it will be debated.

I am very clear that there is an imperative to get this hospital built and that there should be no religious ethos underpinning it or having any role in it, good bad or indifferent.

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