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PLANS FOR THE new National Maternity Hospital have been back in the news in recent weeks, with a protest planned for this weekend and various Oireachtas debates planned in the coming weeks.
The new hospital has been in the works for years, with the location of the hospital being confirmed at St Vincent’s Hospital in Dublin 4 in late 2016.
That site’s ownership by religious order the Sisters of Charity prompted various debates in previous years about whether Catholic doctrine could influence medical practices.
Assurances given by government and the religious order had quelled the debate in recent years but have again come to the surface.
So how did we get here and what does the debate mean for the hospital?
The National Maternity Hospital is currently located at Holles Street in Dublin and is also popularly known by the street’s name.
The hospital is the largest maternity care facility in the State, with about 8,000 women a year using its services.
Parts of the building date back to the mid-1700s and there is a wide consensus that moving the location of the NMH is preferable to updating the current location.
In November 2016 it was confirmed that the new NMH would be developed at Elm Park in Merrion, Dublin 4. This would mean the NMH would be alongside the existing St Vincent’s Hospital, allowing patients at NMH to also have access to that facility.
Despite support for the construction of the new hospital, which was estimated in 2017 to be €300 million, there was soon controversy over its ownership structure.
The Sisters of Charity owns the land on which the NMH was be built and the proposed deal would see the religious order owning the facility because it was providing the lands at no cost to the State.
Tens of thousands of people signed a petition is protest at the move, calling for the Sisters of Charity to be prevented from becoming owners.
In April 2017, the Department of Health sought to ease concerns about potential religious influence at the hospital by saying that a new company would be established to run it that would have “clinical and operational independence”.
Various polls showed that public concerns were not eased by these assurances.
The plan was for the NMH board to be made up of nine directors. Four nominated from St Vincent’s Hospital Group, four from the current NMH, and one international expert in obstetrics and gynaecology.
Opponents to the plan pointed to the board nominees from the St Vincent’s Hospital Group as potentially being influenced by religious ethos.
Opposition to the plans for the ownership structure included various political parties and former master of the NMH Dr Peter Boylan.
One of the suggestions Boylan raised was that a compulsory purchase order (CPO) could be used to allow the State to buy the lands from the Sisters of Charity.
Some of the obstacles to this included costs, potential legal delays and the fact that the new NMH was envisaged as a voluntary public hospital instead of a HSE facility.
Following the increasing opposition to the plans, the Sisters of Charity announced an end to their involvement with the St Vincent’s Hospital Group and said that they would therefore not be involved in the ownership or management of the new NMH
The Sisters of Charity were the major shareholders of the St Vincent’s Healthcare Group but said they would be transferring ownership of the group to a newly formed company with charitable status to be called ‘St Vincent’s’.
This pledge would also see the Sisters of Charity essentially giving up its ownership of the land on which the NMH was to be built, land which was valued at some €200 million.
This presented some issues however and 30 months in late 2019 it was revealed that the transfer of ownership to the charitable company had not taken place.
This is due to the fact that the the Religious Sisters of Charity required formal approval from the Vatican to relinquish ownership of the land.
The Sisters of Charity said in November 2019 that it had sought approval from the Vatican and that formal sign-off was “imminent”.
The order also said that this should not delay the hospital project “in any way” but despite this ten minister for health Simon Harris said that “all outstanding issues” must be addressed before any substantial building works take place.
Last year, there appeared to be a significant development in the saga when the Sisters of Charity said they had received the required approval from the Vatican, allowing them to transfer ownership of the land.
It said this now marks the final movement towards completion of all legal, financial and regulatory matters involved in the transfer of the sisters’ 186-year involvement in the hospital.
The sisters added:
The new St Vincent’s Holdings CLG will continue to be a not-for-profit organisation. In the event of the new St Vincent’s Holdings CLG going into liquidation, its surplus assets will be vested with the Charity Regulator and used for future healthcare purposes with similar values, to benefit the people of Ireland.
The plans for the site would see St Vincent’s Holdings CLG lease the NMH lands to the State for 99 years.
Now, over a year from that point, the issue of the ownership of the land is still proving to be a stumbling block.
Current Minister of Health Stephen Donnelly said early this month that legal documents to transfer the lands to the charity “are ready”.
He also again sought to reassure the public that the Religious Sisters of Charity would have no involvement in the management of the hospital and would not influence the care the hospital provides.
“Services will be provided in accordance with the law, and in accordance with national policy, and that’s it,” he said.
Last week however, Tánaiste Leo Varadkar said there are “problems, quite frankly, in going forward with this project”.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin also described it as “very odd” that the State was to invest so much money in the project but that it would have ownership of the site.
He described this situation as “not entirely satisfactory” but said that stakeholders should not be “overly obsessed” with ownership of the hospital. He added that “nothing has been signed off”, and that it has always been his view that any new hospital should be owned by the public.
Speaking on Saturday, Varadkar suggested that a new location for the hospital may be needed to resolve the ongoing issues.
He also suggested that the State could buy they site from the Sisters of Charity instead of the current plan that would see the Sisters of Chairty transferring the ownership to the charitable company.
Sinn Féin and the Social Democrats are also seeking that the Sisters of Charity transfer the ownership of the land directly to the State, with the SocDems set to table a motion in the Dáil on Wednesday calling for this to happen.
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I’ve a feeling he won’t have much to do after the election
@Forest Hump: im willing to bet my house he’ll still get elected as a TD. The majority of his constituants won’t vote for any other party.
@Forest Hump: I completely agree. Maybe he should of do more before hand! Also maybe that unfortunate girl wouldn’t of died During the week and that poor unfortunate man wouldn’t of been partial paralysed by pure incompetence.
Who does he think he is!
@Da Vid: Jeez, don’t bet your house on it, you’ll never be able to get another one.
@Forest Hump:
Unfortunately there are always the idiots that will vote for their own kind.
Look at the Healy Rae gombeens
@Da Vid: because they have inheritance funds dating back
@Da Vid: The home of poshness
@Pád: What had he to do with any girl dying during the week? Ridiculous comment
@Forest Hump:
Lots more of this to do.
https://themediahq.com/anger-as-cuckoo-fund-buys-229-local-homes-in-lucan/
Ironic at a time when we celebrate our independence from British landlords
@Thomas Sheridan: And all under the watchful eye of FFG. They should hang their heads in shame.
Hasn’t he done enough already..?
Enough damage that is..?
@Justin: He could probably make everyone homeless.
@Sean O’ Donovan: Don’t be giving him ideas.
@Fachtna Roe: lol
@Sean O’ Donovan: i thought that was his political goal
“more for me to do”
I mean, yes. There is bit more to do alright. Laughable.
@John Feeney: it’s dreadful. All about him too. It’s not about you
fulfilling your goals you absolute sh*tehawk!
He was on SOR this morning absolutely waffling like I have never heard before. The man is an empty vacuum and needs to be gone ASAP.
@Willie: A complete fool, but imagines himself to be a real hit. He certainly is full of self belief, but the man has no ability whatsoever. He wouldn’t get a job anywhere, – not even leading blind dogs out to Sihte .
@Willie:
Well RTE (state radio) and (FG Talk) Newstalk have the Election won already, It’s a FF/FG coalition, as opposed to the last FG/FF coalition we were afflicted with.
Be lucky to keep his seat nevermind be minister again.
@Brian Dunne: you know nothing about Irish politics obviously
There’s always more to do if you do nothing.
His a bigger actor than his brother
@nicknack: unfairness that wouldn’t be hard, de brother is a pretty crap actor. Jaysis, that Dublin murders thing was horrendous and he was the worst part of it
I have heard this man a few times on interviews and he comes across as righteous with a topping of arrogance
@Brian Purcell: yes a real life Ross o Carroll Kelly
@Brian Purcell: FG the righteous
I didn’t do my job well so ye would have to re- elect me to do more of the job I was supposed to do. Genius
Hilarious!
Good god the neck on these. Complete arrogance.
No thanks
MORE TO DO, what has he done only increased the number of homeless to over 10,000 people. 4,000 of which are children. You want another term Eoghan, word of advise, get real and get honest.
Neck like a jockeys ……..
I think he suffers from lack of confidence.DUH
@Aine O Connor: *competence
Lol he thinks he will be in government
I’m always getting confused by him and his brother. Which one of them is the actor…
@Jason Ebbs: neither
Ah , he’s funny …. Only it’s serious how bad he is.. Please go away….
The only thing left for you to do son is to feck off with yourself.
The main reason that He would like to stay is ???? . Hey, He would not get a job anywhere else on this planet, that’s what I say and I believe that I’m correct in that.
He will be a bloody lucky man if He even gets re elected. I can’t see how He can with his record.
@Eugene Comaskey: anyone who votes for the clown, is morally bankrupt.
@rumug: it is hard to imagine how so many dum dums got elected at same time and then made it to Ministerial Level. I mean, it is hard to understand that they lasted nearly 4 years. Of course they were forced into implementing stuff by F F forcing their hand.
More bulldozers.
Jimmy Saville and baby sitting come to mind.
Unbelievable how he thinks he is doing a good job. Clueless.
Well this is a bit tone deaf…
It’s funny how people mock FG about having spin when they’re still useless at it. It seems they shoot themselves in the foot daily at this point…
Typical from Eoghan. All big Gabby soundbite talk for the media . Politicians never have never changed for decades. Polished up but a pile of crap behind the suit
Ha ha, good one
All we need is another government with him in it. Does he not get the hint.
His new job will be a comedian! That’s the best joke I’ve heard all day!
Delusional comes to mind.
Seriously? I think it’s time we get someone who at least has a degree in housing of some sort… any sort of qualification that allows them to make qualified decisions that will help with the housing crisis… instead of giving it to these clueless people who are simply not able to do their jobs!
There are still a few working class families not yet living in tents so hes out to fix that
Deluded doesn’t even scratch the surface with this lunatic.
Just go
In fact I think I should get both parachutes in case one of them fails….
Duh. There’s always more to do if you’ve done nothing.
@Ebeneezer Goode: my thoughts exactly. If only he was just being sarcastic!
Only because he has done sweet fa since he has been minister
What did you do that makes you think you can do more
Ask the near 11,000 with no place to call home what he should do,the words fu!!! Off comes to mind. He’s not worth the time of day.
Please people of Ireland wake up and use you vote wisely.
Of course there more for him to do…continue collecting his fat salary with nobody call him to task.
Only because he has done sweet fa since he has been minister
Mr Murphy is unfit for office, he hasn’t a clue and is too arrogant to listen.
Maybe he is planning to finally reply to my email from sux months ago
@Steph: Don’t hold your Breath.
He’s a born and bred liar.
@Ian Breathnach: it must run in the Family, he was reared and Educated on the proceeds of Crime, his Grandfather was Russell Murphy, who Embezzled Millions from Gay Byrne and others.
Bet you the clowns in his constituency will vote him back in.
He’s nearly as good an actor as his brother at this stage
Good luck to them all, but so that we can make sound selections, can we please be advised who claimed more than 1 mobile phone in the last 4 years, who has a Dail bar tab outstanding.
Seems we need journalists to keep tabs on these squander items, cos the system doesnt.
Did say that with a smirk
Him and his deluded buddy OBrien FFG are the most arrogant self rightous people in politics. OBrien FF did not support a vote of no confidence over 10000 people that were homeless. The neck on the 2 of them. Voters in Fingal should remember OBriens arrogance and support to a falied minister for homelesness. Malahide voters wake up and remove O Brien from the gravy train. Your kids will thank you for it.FFG trash
A better comedian than Leo ! In tears here as previously said should be onstage with his two brothers . Delusional silver spooned ass !
Lots more tents to be raised to the ground and grabbed by mechanical cranes for dumping into trucks for disposal and if their is somebody in the tent…well it’s their fault they are injured caused we told them about the safe haven hostels and if you won’t listen then into the bin with your tent…
This guy is useless. At least Simon Harris did some things even if they were the wrong things
Good God!
I get the fact that FG are the landlord party but this is beyond comprehension.
“It’s the economy, stupid!”
You do f all get the f out nobody like you
Of course there’s more for him to do because he has done nothing so far!
So there’s as much to do now as there was 4 years ago
My grandfather used to say anyone can buy their education but they can’t buy intelligence.
He really has been a terrible minister.
Himself, Harris, and Leo just done seem to have a clue. They all have all been born with a silver spoon. How could some one born into his environment understand homless situations and housing. It’s not possible.
If politicians want to work for the state, take state money, pensions etc paid for with public money they should have to use
Public schools
Public health service
Public housing
Public transport etc.
Will will see change then.
FREEDOM OF SPEECH RALLY 1ST FEB CALLING ALL NATIONALIST
No sh!t sherlock
He was aiming for 25,000 i think
OMG i cant believe his arrogance.. Dont know how anyone could vote for him. But they will. What the hell is the difference between them. None, zilch, Nadal.
Never laughed so much so early on a Saturday.
Save yourself the embarrassment and resign now, stand down, remove yourself from the ballot paper and go live in a tent, or maybe a hut made from your election posters.
I think he’s done enough…. damage!
NO NO NO NO
It’s a poison chalice for whoever gets the Housing Ministry. You can’t blame one person for the problem. It’s collective fault with past and current governments.
I am not defending Eoghan Murphy but the people of Dublin have a lot to answer. When they try to build houses there are objections from the better off people. Politicians support these people as they have money and they vote. In addition you must get builders to build and they will not build unless they make a handsome profit. After the crash a lot of builders went broke and blocklayers and plasterers went to Australia. 12 years later the building industry has improved but we still lack blocklayers and plasterers. Make it pay for the builders and houses will be built. In the meantime rents there should be a moratorium on rent increases but politicians have the greatest number of landlords by occupation.
0×1=0
Damn right there’s more! He hasn’t done anything worthwhile yet…
…
More chance of winning the euro millions than holding on to the one Job he couldn’t do. Just another FG failure
He is a liar just like Simon Coveney.
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