I am conscious we have had an exchange on the national maternity hospital issue, but the key question is why we do not see it moving into public ownership if it is, indeed, to be in public ownership in all but name, given the 299-year lease. That question has not been satisfactorily answered. Might we amend the Order of Business to take some time to tease out that question and debate why we cannot look at a compulsory purchase order to see the State finally take effective and legal ownership of the site on which the hospital is to be built?

The Minister for Health has already made it clear that he is going to appear before the Joint Committee on Health. One would assume that the committees exist to interrogate these matters.

I am aware that the issue is going to the committee. The Minister should, however, make statement in the Dáil and all groups should have an opportunity to make statements and ask the Minister questions on the critical issue of the future of the national maternity hospital before any decision is made by the Cabinet because there is dispute over the so-called guarantees and the future of this absolutely critical facility for the delivery of the state-of-the-art healthcare we want for women in this country. That uncertainty has to be resolved. We need to get the hospital the women of this country deserve. The Minister should come in here and make a statement and we should have an opportunity to make statements and ask questions.

That is fine, but I again put it to the Deputy that during the Covid crisis, Members got fiercely excited about the centrality of the work of the committees and said that they should not be sidelined and should be allowed to do their work. It appears to me that this is part of the work they need to do.

Maith an fear.

I agree with the previous contributions. This is a €1 billion investment that the State will be making. It is incredibly important for the women of Ireland that this is done correctly. I welcome the fact that the documents were published last night. It would be worthwhile to provide some time to enable Members and the general public to take a look through them to see whether any issues arise. It is very important that we have a debate on this matter, if not this week, then next week. It is crucial that such a debate happen before the Minister brings the deal back to the Cabinet.

I am conscious that we have a day and half this week to get business done in the plenary session. Many items will be covered by the House today and tomorrow including: the finance legislation; the Sinn Féin Private Member's motion; the Topical Issue debates; oral questions to the Ministers for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media and Housing, Local Government and Heritage; two sets of Leaders' Questions; statements on the Government's response to the accommodation needs of those fleeing Ukraine; and further Private Member's business from the Independent Group tomorrow evening. It is not going to be possible to accommodate further business this week but we could commit to a debate on agriculture next week. The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine will be available to take such a debate next week and the Chief Whip has indicated a willingness to accommodate it. With regard to the issue of the national maternity hospital, we just discussed the matter during Leaders' Questions. The Minister for Health has published all of the documentation and has made it clear that he will go before the Joint Committee on Health to brief members and hear what they have to say in respect of the issue. Next week's business is a matter for the Business Committee but I do not see us being in a position to facilitate-----

On this week's business, an hour is not sufficient to discuss the Finance (Covid-19 and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022.

We are not in a position to facilitate a debate on the national maternity hospital this week.

Would it be feasible to have a debate here on the issue of the maternity hospital after the Minister has had his discussion with the Joint Committee on Health if there continues to be a desire for one?

I am open to it. I am not against debate but the Government-----

That would seem to address the concerns.

-----also has to take decisions.

Absolutely.