Sir, – News that the new National Maternity Hospital will be owned by the State finally ends a long controversy, and sets a welcome precedent for the ownership of other new State-funded hospitals in the future (“Maternity hospital will be owned by State”, September 1st).
But why are the existing hospital in Holles Street and its proposed replacement called “national”? The National Gallery, the National Museum the National Stud and the National Concert Hall are unique State-funded institutions, and the word “national” seems appropriate for them, but there are three maternity hospitals in Dublin, all similar in size and providing the same service, as well as other State-funded maternity hospitals outside of Dublin, so why would one hospital be singled out as national?
Should the State not take ownership of the word “national”, like a royal seal in the UK, and only allow institutions to use the title in defined situations by government appointment? – Yours, etc,
SEAN O’SULLIVAN,
Crossabeg,
Co Wexford.