Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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264. To ask the Minister for Health his views on the fact that the HSE board of members rejected the proposed governance structure of the new national maternity hospital for fear it will give control of the facility to a group (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45731/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The Government is committed to the development of the new National Maternity Hospital (NMH) planned for the St Vincent’s University Hospital Campus at Elm Park, as set out in the Programme for Government. Significant progress has been made on the capital project, with planning permission for the hospital secured in 2017 and, in 2018, the awarding of the contract for substantial enabling works.

As I have made clear previously, I am committed to ensure that there is no religious ethos brought to bear in the provision of public maternity and gynaecology services which would restrict the provision of all legally permissible services in the new hospital. I will not bring any proposal to Government unless it achieves this, and in addition, safeguards the State’s investment in the new hospital.

The proposed corporate and clinical governance arrangements for the new National Maternity Hospital were set out in the Mulvey Agreement, which was finalised in 2016 following an extensive mediation process between the NMH and St. Vincent’s Healthcare Group (SVHG). A draft legal framework has been developed to copperfasten the clinical and operational independence of the new hospital, and to ensure the protection of the State’s investment. The draft legal arrangements have of course been, and continue to be, the subject of very detailed consideration by the HSE Board, as would be expected. Work is ongoing to finalise the legal arrangements, as part of which I have engaged further with stakeholders. However, as I have clarified previously, I will not be making any further comment on the nature of this engagement until the process has concluded.