Today the Taoiseach has repeatedly said that concerns around the national maternity hospital have been comprehensively addressed and that without question legal guarantees are in place. But that is not entirely correct because there are still many concerns. In fact, two of the experts on the HSE board expressed concerns about the legal framework in place and as a result of those concerns they dissented from the vote. Those two experts were Professor Deirdre Madden who is a professor in law, and I believe is the only legal expert on the HSE board, and Dr. Sarah McLoughlin who is a public advocacy and ethics expert. I believe the Taoiseach appointed Dr. McLoughlin to the Medical Council at one time because of her expertise in the area. Is the Taoiseach concerned that these two experts on the HSE board have expressed concerns about the legal ownership, the site and the building-----

Time is up.

-----and the governance control of the proposed maternity hospital?

Time is up. Time is up, Deputy, please.

Will the Taoiseach agree to meet with these experts-----

Deputy the time is up.

-----or for the Minister for Health to meet with those experts to hear what their concerns are-----

Am I wasting my breath?

-----because they cannot get them on the public record, and to address those concerns?

Deputy. Please.

Sorry, Ceann Comhairle. Thank you.

Please. The Deputy is not the only one. But please would people have some respect?

We have the strongest legal advice from the Attorney General in relation to these matters in terms of advising the Government on the legal guarantees that have been given. I am not privy to the HSE board meetings. It is a new departure that we now seem to be getting into a situation where there is public discussion of the individual contributions - whether they are accurate or not I do not know - of each individual member of the HSE board if they happen to take a particular stance on a particular issue. That is a new departure that I do not intend to engage with because I cannot second guess meetings of a corporate body like the HSE governing authority.

In a similar way that the Taoiseach cannot second guess the decisions of the St. Vincent's board.

Please.

What I can say is that the new hospital will have clinical, operational and financial independence and that there are a number of legal instruments that guarantee that all the services that are legally permissible in this State will be provided to the women of Ireland now and well into the future and that is important.