Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I would like to return to the issue of the national maternity hospital, particularly in the context of the Taoiseach's emphasis on honesty. Last Tuesday, the Cabinet had concerns and could not sign off on the proposal for the national maternity hospital. The Government has allowed for a two-week period before a final decision but in the interim, we have been consistently told by Government sources that there will be no change. That is disingenuous. Why are we going through the process of having a committee meeting tomorrow if there is going to be no change?

Second, the Taoiseach graced Fergus Finlay's article and in that context, I want to reiterate what Deputy Cairns said. The Taoiseach used Mr. Finlay's article today to back up the narrative and he is entitled to do that in a democracy, but I ask him to clarify whether Professor Madden and Dr. Sarah McLoughlin can also speak out. I am sure the Taoiseach is going to tell me that it is a matter for the board but I am asking him for his own view on this. Yesterday, the Minister for Health, speaking on an RTÉ programme, saw no problem with the two dissenting voices being heard at the committee and clarifying why they dissented. What is the Taoiseach's opinion?

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