Donnelly does not rule out changes to the proposal
Health Minister Stephen Donnelly said he did not rule out changes to the proposal for the relocation of the National Maternity Hospital (NMH) when the memo was brought back to the Cabinet.
The government intends to proceed with the current plan agreed upon by the various parties and reiterates that legislative changes should not be considered.
At the Oireachtas Committee on Health on Wednesday morning, Sinn Féin’s TD David Cullinane asked Donnelly if there were any new discussions with parties like St. Vincent, which have recently been of concern.
Donnelly said: I do not exclude anything. “
He was further pressured on whether it meant that there was a fresh debate, “I don’t rule out anything, but my view that it’s worth it is no further move. That’s it. ” When asked about the main points of the Oily Chatas debate in that case, Donnelly said, “I believe it is the Cabinet’s intention to move this forward, but in terms of what it will bring to the Cabinet, I have nothing. I will not exclude it. “
Donnelly was also asked why St. Vincent simply didn’t donate the land to the country, he said: They were asked by Minister Harris, they were asked by this government and the previous government. They have been consistent for the last nine years, which is not just what has been on the table for them so far. “
The proposed new hospital location was owned by the Religious Sisters of Charity, which transferred its shares to a new company, St Vincent’s Holdings CLG. The land of the new hospital will be rented to the state for 299 years.
Hearings are ongoing. In his opening remarks, Donnelly said the new NMH is “totally clinically, operational and financially independent.” It has its own constitution and its own business license by HSE. “
“All procedures currently being performed at Holles Street’s NMH will be provided at the new NMH, which includes termination, tubal ligation, and gender verification procedures. This new hospital is legally permitted. We provide services for all obstetrics, gynecology, obstetrics and newborns.
“”Ireland There is no good track record in religion and female reproductive health. It has a poor and dark history. Therefore, women naturally demand that our new National Maternity Hospital has no religious involvement at any time, now or in the future, and is never possible. “
Former Master of NMH Rhona Mahony also attended the committee to understand the history of women’s health in Ireland and the “interaction between church and state” and “really, really difficult for women and have a major impact on women’s health. Has been given. ” .. “
“We are now moving forward and moving to another Ireland. Over the last decade we have seen such great progress.”
“What was overlooked was on the St. Vincent campus,” she said, in that the new facility is “great” and that women’s services are significantly improved.
She said she was “not at all” worried about the potential religious implications and that the legal documents had a layer of protection.
Details to follow
https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/national-maternity-hospital-donnelly-not-ruling-out-changes-to-proposals-1.4875553?localLinksEnabled=false Donnelly does not rule out changes to the proposal
