Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 3 May 2018
199. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Health if medical and surgical procedures legal here will be available at the national maternity hospital after the St. Vincent's company is established; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19467/18]
View answer200. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Health if he has had discussions with a group (details supplied) or other Roman Catholic bodies on the ethos of the national maternity hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19468/18]
View answer201. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health his views on recent reports that the values and vision of Mary Aikenhead will underpin the new St. Vincent's company; his further views on whether this is compatible with ensuring the clinical independence of the national maternity hospital and the previous assurances that were given in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19470/18]
View answer202. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the status of the negotiations of the legal framework to protect the independence of the new National Maternity Hospital and the State's investment in it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19471/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 199 to 202, inclusive, together.
Work continues on the preparation of the draft legal framework which will ensure that the State's significant investment in the new maternity hospital will be protected. This framework will also further underpin the operational and clinical independence of the hospital.
In the course of this work there has been extensive engagement with the HSE, the HSE legal advisers and the Chief State Solicitor's Office. The Deputy will, I hope, appreciate that pending the finalisation of an agreement between all stakeholders, it is premature for me to give any further information at this point.
However, I can assure the Deputy that patient care in the new maternity hospital will be delivered without religious, ethnic or other distinction and any medical procedure which is in accordance with the laws of the land will be carried out there.
