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Hospital Services

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 3 March 2022

Thursday, 3 March 2022

Ceisteanna (343)

Mary Lou McDonald

Ceist:

343. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health if the board of an organisation (details supplied) will include a public interest member, a National Maternity Hospital member or a female member to represent women’s maternity care interests; and if not, if he sought the inclusion of these board members. [12239/22]

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Freagraí scríofa

I understand that St. Vincent’s Holdings CLG, which was incorporated in August 2020, is a not-for-profit company with charitable status and will be governed by Irish company law. 

I am advised that a statement on the St Vincent's Healthcare Group (SVHG) website also indicates that the constitution of St. Vincent’s Holdings CLG has received the required approval from the Charities Regulator. The constitution has been published on the SVHG website. The main object of the constitution of the company, as published, is ‘to advance healthcare in Ireland, a purpose of benefit to the community, by promoting medical education, medical research and patient care in all areas of medicine through the St. Vincent’s Healthcare Group, and to reflect compliance with national and international best practice guidelines on medical ethics and the laws of Ireland’. 

In addition, information published on the SVHG website indicates that the Board of St Vincent’s Holdings CLG will comprise independent directors who will be appointed based on their competencies and skills.

I take it the Deputy’s question arises in the context of the proposed relocation of the National Maternity Hospital to the St Vincent’s University Hospital campus. As the Deputy will be aware, work is ongoing to put appropriate legal arrangements in place that provides the necessary assurances around all legally permissible services being provided in the new NMH. In addition, the safeguarding of the State’s investment must also be affirmed beyond doubt. I will bring a proposal to Government for approval once I am satisfied that the legal arrangements achieve the objectives that I set out above. However, I will not be making any further comment in relation to this matter until the process of engagement and deliberation regarding the legal arrangements has concluded.

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