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

The bottom line is that it is ownership by the State of this hospital. The Deputy just refuses to accept that and is creating an issue that does not merit the prioritisation she has given it in the context of this debate. A 300-year lease at €10 a year is ownership by any other name. That is a fact. Anybody who understands anything about property law knows that.

The real issue is this. The Deputy has identified instances in terms of investment in healthcare. We want to make investment. This Government has been in place for two years. This represents a significant advance on what was put on the table in 2016 by the previous Government in the Mulvey agreement. This is a very significant advance in terms of the constitution of the hospital, the operational licence from the HSE to the hospital, the representation from the State via the Minister's three nominees-----

See this speech in context