Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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1000. To ask the Minister for Health the status of the completion date for the transfer of shares from a group to a company (details supplied); if his attention has been drawn to ongoing public concern in relation to the new maternity hospital in respect of protecting the investment as a public asset and in respect of religious influence from the company; and the latest position on the matter. [13538/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy may wish to note that the approval of the HSE is required to facilitate the transfer by the Religious Sisters of Charity of their shareholding in St Vincent’s Healthcare Group (SVHG) to St Vincent’s Holdings CLG. I understand that the SVHG hassought this approval and engagement between the parties is ongoing.

The Deputy can be assured that I fully appreciate the need to protect the State's investment in the new National Maternity Hospital (NMH). My Department and the HSE have had very significant engagement with NMH and SVHG to agree the legal framework, the overall objective of which is to ensure that the new hospital will remain in State ownership, and that health services at the hospital will be provided without religious, ethnic or other distinction or ethos.

The development of the legal framework has proved to be more protracted than originally anticipated; however, I am hopeful that discussions will be concluded, and the drafting of the legal documents finalised, in the coming weeks. Once finalised, the legal framework will be brought to Government for approval.