asked the Minister for Health if he will identify the Saint James whose name has been adopted to replace the name of Saint Kevin attached to the major hospital of the Eastern Health Board; and the reasons and authority for and the means adopted to achieve the change of name.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Hospital Name Change.
4.
During the negotiations which led to the setting up of the corporate body to administer St. Kevin's Hospital, it was considered desirable, by the parties involved in the negotiations, to change the name as a reflection of the change intended in the management of the hospital and its development as a teaching hospital. The joint negotiating body considered a variety of titles which might be appropriate to the new situation.
In arriving at a decision about this, account was taken of the tradition in this country to name hospitals after saints. The name of St. James has historical associations with the area surrounding the hospital, going back to medieval times. The local Catholic church is called the Church of St. James and the hospital itself is bordered by James's Street — the address of the hospital being No. 1 James's Street. There was formerly a Church of Ireland parish of St. James in the locality. In medieval times the customs post on the road to the west was at St. James's Gate, a famous landmark which was close to the holy well of St. James — the centre of a great fair. I understand that the St. James involved in these associations is St. James the Apostle, the brother of Saint John the Evangelist.
The name of St. James was incorporated in the Establishment Order under the Health (Corporate Bodies) Act, 1961, which was laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas on 14 June, 1971, and was also circulated to each member of the Oireachtas at the time.
Would the Minister say what is the reason for calling the hospital after St. Kevin, in the first place?
Would the Minister not add that possibly one of the reasons is a delicate reference to the teaching function of the Apostles.
I believe this is possibly the first occasion in the history of the House that somebody is asked to explain the reason why a saint is associated with a public body. It is a very interesting precedent.