Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

379. To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 787 of 15 January 2019, if he will publish the details of a process (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5232/19]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

380. To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 787 of 15 January 2019, if he is satisfied that the process in question has been duly scrutinised with regard to the relevant aspects of Canon Law regarding the need for Vatican approval; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5234/19]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 379 and 380 together.

St Vincent’s Healthcare Group has confirmed the process by which the Religious Sisters of Charity will withdraw from the Group and transfer their shareholding to a new company St Vincent’s Holdings CLG. The Sisters have, of course, already resigned from the Group’s Board. The share transfer process, and the question of the need for Vatican approval, is a matter for St Vincent's Healthcare Group.

My Department continues to engage with both the National Maternity Hospital and St Vincent’s Healthcare Group in relation to the legal framework required to protect the States' investment in the new hospital. The overall framework being put in place will, unequivocally, copper-fasten the principle that patient care in the new hospital will be delivered without religious, ethnic or other distinction, and that any relevant medical procedure, which is in accordance with the laws of the land, will be carried out at the new hospital.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

381. To ask the Minister for Health if the public interest director will be part of the Holles Street or St. Vincent's quota of directors to be nominated, in view of the statement that the board of the new national maternity hospital will include a public interest director; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5235/19]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Given the level of State investment, I have sought, and received, the agreement of both the National Maternity Hospital and St Vincent’s Healthcare Group that the Board of the new NMH DAC will be competency based and will include a Public Interest representative. While the detail of same has yet to be worked through, the intention is that the Public Interest representative will not be drawn from either the National Maternity Hospital or St Vincent’s Healthcare Group representation on the Board.

My Department has been engaging with both NMH and St Vincent’s Healthcare Group in relation to the legal framework, which will inter aliaensure that the State's significant investment in the new hospital will be protected. Work to finalise the suite of legal documents is ongoing with the NMH and SVHG and is expected to be completed early this year.