Kevin Humphreys (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I hate to say nothing has been added to this issue but time and both parties have been afforded the time. There is nothing new about this project as it has been known about since 1996. As I stated, the announcement was made in 2013. Moreover, as planning permission was to be applied for the last quarter of 2015, there is nothing new about this. If both parties believe they can resolve the issue, why not let the planning permission be applied for while they continue discussions? It had been planned that a new maternity hospital would open there in 2018 but that date now has long passed and we are contemplating 2019. Let the mediation continue for three years. Let the structures be hammered out and agreed but for heaven's sake, let the planning permission be applied for. It was estimated in 2013 that the building cost would be approximately €150 million. That has gone out the window because building costs are shooting up at this stage. Consequently, additional resources must be given to build a new national maternity hospital.

I do not know what is going on behind the scenes and I wish the mediator the very best of luck but historically, representatives of St. Vincent's University Hospital, Elm Park, have appeared before the Committee of Public Accounts and have been knocked about. Is that something that is happening in the background that is delaying this? I appeal to both sides to allow the planning permission application to go ahead and we can talk about the rest for three years. However, it is unacceptable to me and to the women and children of Ireland that this hospital be delayed further. I say to the two parties - not to the Minister of State - that they should get on about the business and get a proper national maternity hospital built for the country. The two bodies knew quite clearly that this has been planned for 20 years and was announced in 2013. I find it unacceptable that they still are playing tiddlywinks and power games with the health of women and children.