Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am glad to get the opportunity to talk on this very important matter this evening. We certainly need a new maternity hospital in the city of Dublin, and for the country as well. I do not understand why the people who are objecting to this do not understand they are getting lands worth more than €50 million or €60 million, mostly free of charge or at a €10 per year for 299 years. How much is that when 299 years is several lifetimes?

I cannot understand it, and especially some of the people who are against this deal. The debate around the delivery of the new national maternity hospital and its relocation fails to take full account of the substandard maternity facilities in other hospitals and promises made by the previous few Governments to provide new and improved standards of care for women. In fact, four upgraded maternity hospitals have been promised but none has actually been delivered, and we are being critical now of the Government for providing a maternity hospital of the highest worldwide standards. That is what we want to ensure. I cannot understand it. Of course, as has been said by other speakers, there is a hatred of the Catholic religion. There is a hatred of nuns and priests and, yes, some of them did wrong in the past. However, many of them did an awful lot for young boys and girls and men and women around the country and they have to be appreciated for that.

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