Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour) | Oireachtas source

That is not what we are saying. We are saying that if we were to try to proceed with the planning application for the maternity hospital at the same time as the children's hospital, we would delay the children's hospital. From my knowledge of planning, what is important is that all future developments on that site will be notified to An Bord Pleanála in order that it can take into consideration all the preparatory work that is being done. In my experience of planning, that is always a help. It means it will not be completely new to An Bord Pleanála and it will not be a surprise. It will, in fact, ensure that when the application for the maternity hospital at that location occurs, An Bord Pleanála will probably already have some of the preparatory work done.