Maternity Services

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 24 October 2019

Thursday, 24 October 2019

Ceisteanna (183)

Róisín Shortall

Ceist:

183. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the progress made in respect of the proposed move of the National Maternity Hospital to a site on the St. Vincent’s campus and his announcement in December 2018 that agreement had been reached by which an organisation (details supplied) would transfer its shareholding in St. Vincent's Healthcare Group and withdraw from the group and that the necessary legal documents would be finalised early in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44030/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

The St Vincent's Healthcare Group has confirmed the process by which the Religious Sisters of Charity will withdraw from the Group and transfer their shareholding to a new company St Vincent’s Holdings CLG.  The Sisters have of course, already resigned from the Group’s Board.  I am advised that Revenue has approved the proposed revisions to the constitution of the St Vincent's Healthcare Group and the Group continues to engage with the Charities Regulator in relation to the constitution of St Vincent’s Holdings CLG.  

As the Deputy will be aware, my Department is engaging with the St Vincent's Healthcare Group, the National Maternity Hospital and the HSE in relation to the legal framework which will be put in place to protect the State's significant investment in the new maternity hospital. The overall framework being put in place will unequivocally copper-fasten the principle that patient care in the new hospital will be delivered without religious, ethnic or other distinction and that any medical procedure which is in accordance with the laws of the land will be carried out there.