National maternity hospital agreement
Deputy Whitmore questioned the HSE-St. Vincent’s agreement and the absence of explicit references to procedures such as terminations, sterilisation and IVF. The Taoiseach insisted the hospital would not be influenced by any religious organisation and said it must be built without further delay.
Recent reports have stated there is a new agreement between the HSE and the St. Vincent's Holdings group regarding the move to the national maternity hospital. The agreement states that all medical treatment allowable under the law will be provided in the hospital. However, it somehow does not even specify procedures like terminations of pregnancy, sterilisation and IVF. Those are not going to be specified in the agreement. I am surprised that the Taoiseach does not seem to have a knowledge of this €800 million investment that is going into a private entity. He does seem to be up to date with what is happening.
Not many people, myself included, believe that the Catholic Church will allow terminations or medical procedures that fundamentally go against its ethos to be performed on its land. I am not sure who the Taoiseach think he is trying to cod with this agreement. The women of Ireland will not countenance any healthcare that will be influenced by religious ethos.
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The Taoiseach cannot guarantee that.
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The Deputy should let me finish. It is not going to involve or be influenced by any religious organisation, be it Catholic or whatever. What needs to happen is the hospital needs to be built now. Negotiations are ongoing but have gone on far too long. The existing conditions are not acceptable in the modern era. What I am annoyed about is that it is taking so long. I have been Taoiseach for a year and a half. This has been going on for years since the new hospital was announced. Health projects must get delivered much more quickly than they currently are being delivered in this country. It is not acceptable. The issues that have been raised will be dealt with comprehensively. Negotiations are ongoing. A memorandum will come to Government and we will share it with the House then. People can then share their views on all of that. I am clear that we need to get this hospital built.