Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senator for raising this issue. I agree it is me who is here, unfortunately, but my colleague sends his apologies. My sentiments are the same as those of the Minister and I speak on his behalf.

The year 2016 is a landmark year for maternity services. Ireland's first national maternity strategy was published in January and HIQA is currently finalising national standards for better, safer maternity care. A Programme for a Partnership Government commitments to implementing the strategy and work to facilitate implementation is ongoing.

The €3 million development funding provided for maternity services in 2016 has been allocated in line with the strategy. This includes: the establishment of the national women's and infant's health programme; the establishment of maternity networks across hospital groups; the appointment of additional staff; the development of specialist bereavement teams; and the implementation of the maternal and newborn clinical management system.

In relation to the proposed move of the National Maternity Hospital to St. Vincent's campus, as Senator Humphreys stated, my colleague, the Minister for Health, Deputy Harris, and I remain hopeful that a solution to the current difficulties can be found. As the Senator correctly pointed out, issues have emerged in relation to the governance of the future maternity hospital on the St. Vincent's campus and this has unfortunately delayed the project much longer than any of us would have hoped.

There have been a number of attempts over the past 12 months, particularly in recent months, to bring both hospitals together in an effort to work through the problems. Shortly after the Minister, Deputy Harris, was appointed to the Department of Health, he met both hospitals and stressed to them the importance the Government attached to this major capital project. Co-location of acute adult and maternity hospitals is Government policy. The model of standalone maternity hospitals is outdated and not the norm internationally, and I would agree the 10,000 babies Senator Humphreys speaks about deserve to be born in a hospital that is fit for purpose and modern. Co-location helps ensure that, where necessary, mothers have immediate access to a full range of medical and support services.

In an effort to broker a solution, the Minister appointed Mr. Kieran Mulvey to facilitate this discussion between the two hospitals. Mr. Mulvey has engaged extensively with both parties since June and mediation talks are being conducted independently of the Department. However, the Minister has been assured that both hospitals have worked constructively and collaboratively and are focused on finding a resolution.

It is not acceptable that this is going on as long as it has but my understand is that the talks will conclude shortly. At this delicate stage in the negotiations, both parties should be afforded the space to work with Mr. Mulvey to identify a resolution away from the media spotlight, and to ensure that it does not continue to be, as the Senator put it, a turf war.

The Senator can rest assured that efforts to agree a future governance structure for the co-located hospitals are continuing. There are significant infrastructural deficits within the National Maternity Hospital and the Minister for Health is acutely aware that the future of the NMH is not at Holles Street. However, as both hospitals are voluntary independent hospitals, a solution cannot be imposed upon them. Ultimately, both hospitals will have to reach an agreement on the outstanding governance issues if this project, as envisaged, is to proceed, which we all hope it will. I certainly want it to proceed. We want to see a world-class, state-of-the-art maternity hospital development on the St. Vincent's campus.

On my own behalf, I would say this is a matter of urgency. Something like this takes time. If Mr. Mulvey was appointed in June, one needs to afford the period of time for him to work with both hospitals and get the best out of the negotiating process. It is my understanding that these talks will conclude shortly and, hopefully, we will have an adequate resolution.