Maire Devine (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 4:

In page 8, between lines 8 and 9, to insert the following:

“(2) Children’s Health Ireland shall guarantee that there shall be no non-medical influence in the clinical operations of the hospital within the laws of the State.”.

Gabh mo leithscéal, Storm Ali has delayed me.

I have tabled this amendment in order to hear what the Government has to say regarding non-medical influence in the clinical operations of the hospital within the laws of the State.

The situation in the national children's hospital is different from that of the National Maternity Hospital and the issues of ethos and interference. Will the Minister assure us that there will be no such situation at the national children's hospital.

We have seen evidence recently in the Scally report of the paternalistic attitude to women in this State and the influence that outside agencies, namely, the church has had on the treatment of women, in particular. This is a children's hospital and we cannot have what I term malign influences operating in that hospital.

Should the Minister reassure us that no such situation will or can arise, I will be happy to withdraw this amendment?