Frances Fitzgerald (Fine Gael)

Yes, but €90 million still seems a lot of money to raise from such sources. People still have concerns about the reality of the approach to the funding of this project at this time. I think the Minister will understand the reason for their concerns. Is it a viable project? The Minister seems to be saying she considers it a viable project even in the current situation. We have had the first indication this morning that the hospital will be part of the Government's four-year funding strategy. The Minister clearly received a guarantee, but can she assume it will be supported by our visitors from Frankfurt, Brussels and Washington? Can it be ring-fenced?

The Minister has been criticised for not putting in place the clinical and governance structures, but I assume work is ongoing in this regard. A considerable amount of work was required in agreeing on the governance structures at Tallaght hospital. Three entities will be brought together in the new paediatric hospital. What is the timeframe for developing governance structures and the Minister's thinking on them? People will hold different points of view on the moral and ethical questions that will undoubtedly arise. If one takes paediatric research, for example, genetic investigations will play a critical role. It is important, therefore, that the governance structures are clarified in advance, given the ethos at the location selected for the new hospital.