Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

That is fine. I will just read the response I have been given by the Minister, Deputy Harris. I reaffirm to the House that the Minister's commitment is to this hugely important project and similarly his commitment is to ongoing progressive development of the maternity services in this country. The new national maternity hospital is a key strategy pillar in the development of those services. Substantial time and effort has been spent in ensuring that the State's significant investment is protected through robust legal and governance arrangements. The Minister is fully satisfied that the new company to be established, the National Maternity Hospital at Elm Park DAC, limited by shares, will have clinical and operational independence in the provision of maternity, gynaecology, and neonatal services as well as financial and budgetary independence. I will bring Senator Devine's concerns back to the Minister, Deputy Harris.