Yesterday, I raised the question of the new national maternity hospital and the fact that the Government is now in the invidious situation where it is awaiting the approval of the Vatican to proceed with the building of the much-needed new national maternity hospital.

Today in The Irish Catholic, a Rome-based Irish moral theologian has urged the Vatican to veto this proposal. Fr. Vincent Twomey is also reported as having urged the Vatican to stand firm. That has serious implications for the future of maternity care in this country. As Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, I would like to ask the Tánaiste if he is aware of the situation, whether he has been in touch with his counterparts in the diplomatic service in the Vatican, and what his assessment is of the likelihood of the Vatican giving approval to the proposal to alienate the site at St. Vincent's, and what is the likelihood now of the national maternity hospital proceeding?

I simply have not been involved in this conversation as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade. I am aware Deputy Shortall raised the matter in the House yesterday. I will have to get the Minister for Health, Deputy Harris, to come back directly to the Deputy on it. If there is a foreign affairs element to it, I can be brought into the conversation but I am not aware there is at the moment.