I would like to return to the issue of the national maternity hospital, particularly in the context of the Taoiseach's emphasis on honesty. Last Tuesday, the Cabinet had concerns and could not sign off on the proposal for the national maternity hospital. The Government has allowed for a two-week period before a final decision but in the interim, we have been consistently told by Government sources that there will be no change. That is disingenuous. Why are we going through the process of having a committee meeting tomorrow if there is going to be no change?

Second, the Taoiseach graced Fergus Finlay's article and in that context, I want to reiterate what Deputy Cairns said. The Taoiseach used Mr. Finlay's article today to back up the narrative and he is entitled to do that in a democracy, but I ask him to clarify whether Professor Madden and Dr. Sarah McLoughlin can also speak out. I am sure the Taoiseach is going to tell me that it is a matter for the board but I am asking him for his own view on this. Yesterday, the Minister for Health, speaking on an RTÉ programme, saw no problem with the two dissenting voices being heard at the committee and clarifying why they dissented. What is the Taoiseach's opinion?

First, the Cabinet did not take a decision in the past week on this before making sure there was full transparency in all the documents underpinning the Government's consideration and the decision it will take. Deputy Connolly would have been in the House asking that the Government would not take a decision before issues were made public. All of the documentation has been made public and there will be a hearing tomorrow before the Joint Committee on Health.

To date, I have not heard anything that undermines the idea of clinical, financial and operational independence for the hospital or that raises any questions around those services that are lawfully permitted in the State being provided. I have not heard anything really that questions the fundamentals of those agreements.

In respect of the HSE board members, my sense is that the board needs to deal with this because there are more than three members on the board. I am sure Deputy Connolly, at another time and on another issue, would say that the board itself, collectively, has a responsibility to articulate its position.

The Taoiseach has quoted Mr. Finlay-----

Yes, I have because it is in the public domain. Deputy Connolly has quoted-----

Time is up.

-----minutes of the HSE board.

Thank you. We cannot go into it in such detail now. Deputy McAuliffe-----

I take Deputy Connolly's point but-----

Please, we are out of time. Deputy McAuliffe is next.