The Government will not consider any changes to the structure or governance of the new National Maternity Hospital in the coming weeks, despite Opposition concerns about the ownership of the site and potential religious influence.
Senior sources have said Ministers would instead seek to use the next two weeks to explain the nature of the agreement with St Vincent’s hospital and seek to reassure Green Party TDs and others who have expressed reservations about the proposed relocation.
The site at Elm Park in Dublin was owned by the Religious Sisters of Charity, who have transferred their shareholding to a new company, St Vincent's Holdings CLG. The land for the new hospital is to be leased to the State for 299 years.
Some campaigners say that because the land is owned by an entity with links to the Sisters of Charity, the hospital could be hampered by a religious ethos in delivering elements of women’s healthcare, such as abortion and IVF.
This view is disputed by hospital staff, including former NMH master Rhona Mahony, who this week insisted the hospital would have complete independence and urged policymakers to proceed with the project.
We asked Irish Times readers if they were concerned about the ownership of the site of the new hospital and to share their views.
Siobhán Condon, Co Wicklow
I am totally conflicted and confused about this issue. On the one hand, a respected former master of Holles Street has grave concerns, while another respected former master is urging policymakers to proceed – who to believe?
I have very little confidence in the current Minister for Health, but again surely the Attorney General and rest of the Cabinet are fully equipped with the knowledge and advice to make the correct decision. We badly need to get this project up and running but are we in danger of making a horrible mistake that will affect Irish women into the future – all very troubling!
Vincent Hearne, France
Churches have no business being involved in healthcare or education, they are responsibilities of the State. Religious activity should take place in churches, not schools or hospitals.
Anne Craig, Dublin
The most important thing is to get this hospital built. The hysteria being stirred up by (mainly) opposition politicians and retired "experts" is doing no service to the women of Ireland who deserve a first class maternity hospital with all the services that involves.
I’m not a great fan of the current Government but we put them there to do a job and so far they have coped with appalling events pretty well. We have to trust them that this is a project which has to proceed. I have spoken with women from 25 to 75, none feel at risk from building this new hospital on the St Vincent’s site, but most would be very concerned if it didn’t go ahead.
Anne Marie Kennelly, Co Kerry
Church and State have to be separate. The State have to own and manage the new NMH. None of us can predict what procedures will be available in the next 300 years and what interference the church will exert. We have had enough. They are not true to their word . . . taxpayers’ money, so only taxpayers should own every square inch of it.
Anonymous, Dublin
No reasonable explanation has been offered to this simple question: why is the Irish taxpayer gifting the National Maternity Hospital to a private company that will own the Elm Park land that the hospital will sit upon?
Why does the Government not issue a CPO \[compulsory purchase order] for the site, then pass control/ownership of that site to the NMH governing authority?
Voluntary hospitals make a valuable contribution to healthcare in Ireland. Their independence has allowed them to become leaders in healthcare provision, education and research. Why would we risk the stability and independence of a voluntary hospital by paying for one to sit on land that is owned by a private company. As a midwife connected with NMH, I can confirm that a new, modern, fit-for-purpose building for the NMH is desperately needed. The Government needs to CPO the Elm Park site asap [as soon as possible].
Martin Diggins, Co Tipperary
Considering how lightly the Sisters of Charity got away under the redress scheme I would have thought the least a Christian order could do is gift the State the site free of charge and conditions.
Failing this, the State should serve them with a CPO and challenge them to fight it in court. Entering into the kind of conditional arrangement being considered is a totally unacceptable use of public money.
Declan Delamere, Dublin
I am no longer concerned about NMH since I heard Dr Rhona Mahoney on Pat Kenny yesterday demolishing all the arguments that there would still be a church say over what clinical procedures could be carried out.
At this stage it’s been debated to death and the media should stop trying to drag it out and let them get on with building it.
Gillian Kennedy, Dublin
I think that given the history here, the new maternity hospital should be 100 per cent separate from any religious order.
The land and buildings should be owned outright by the State, if necessary by CPO or by way of recompense for previous victims of the order – definitely not on a long lease. The operations should be completely separate to that of the order. We are long overdue to separate church and State in both healthcare and education.
David Ryan, Dublin
Let’s get on with the provision of the new facility. This is just politicians and a few others who never agree with anything objecting for the sake of objecting. Last week it was turf. They are just behaving like schoolchildren.
John Murray, Dublin 8
[The] hospital should be publicly owned. No ifs or buts. If there’s a will, there’s a way. If [the] Sisters of Charity refuse, build elsewhere.
Anne-Marie Curtin, Co Cork
I am concerned that the State does not own the land and will be prevented from ever owning the land.
It is a disgrace that the church has not gifted the land to the State in atonement for past wrongs, which have been widely publicised.
The rent is a great worry. This should be wholly State owned and run and completely secular.
Ciarán Byrne, Co Wicklow
A public hospital should be on State-owned land. The 299-year lease only makes sense if the landowner wishes to maintain their interest and influence.
