{"id":26247,"date":"2022-05-14T13:44:00","date_gmt":"2022-05-14T17:44:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=26247"},"modified":"2022-05-16T10:47:00","modified_gmt":"2022-05-16T14:47:00","slug":"protestors-call-for-public-ownership-of-national-maternity-hospital-site","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=26247","title":{"rendered":"Protestors Call For Public Ownership Of National Maternity Hospital Site"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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People take part in a protest outside Leinster House in Dublin (PA Wire\/PA Images)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Hundreds of protesters have called on the Government to ensure the site of Ireland\u2019s new National Maternity Hospital is fully publicly owned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The demonstration outside the D\u00e1il on Saturday afternoon was held amid the ongoing controversy over the ownership and governance arrangements at the proposed location for the hospital.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The National Maternity Hospital (NMH) is currently located at Holles Street in Dublin city center in a 130-year-old building that has been deemed no longer fit for purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The new hospital is set to be co-located alongside St Vincent\u2019s Hospital in the south of the city, but the previous ownership of the site by the Religious Sisters of Charity has led to concerns from some about the potential influence of a Catholic ethos within the new hospital and whether that would be compatible with the provision of services such as elective abortion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

St Vincent\u2019s Healthcare Group (SVHG) recently completed the legal transfer of the Religious Sisters of Charity\u2019s shareholding in the group to a new charitable company, St Vincent\u2019s Holdings CLG.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As it stands, the NMH deal provides for the Government to lease the land from St Vincent\u2019s for 299 years at \u20ac10 per year, which the Government has argued effectively amounts to ownership.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Last month, the Cabinet delayed a final decision to approve the plan as it moved to address the contention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ministers are expected to take a decision on Tuesday amid growing expectation that they will sign it off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Taoiseach Miche\u00e1l Martin has insisted that any procedure that is legal in Ireland has to be provided at the new hospital.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, there has been particular contention around the meaning of the phrase \u201cclinically appropriate\u201d in the part of the new hospital\u2019s constitution that sets out what procedures will be carried out there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On Saturday, Minister for Further and Higher Education Simon Harris said the Government should move to provide clarity on the phrase, potentially in the form of a legal codicil detailing exactly what procedures would be undertaken.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAny additional clarifications or assurances the Government can provide, when making a decision on Tuesday, would be welcomed by many,\u201d he told RTE.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sinn F\u00e9in president Mary Lou McDonald also said clarity on the phrase would be \u201cvery welcome\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI think people want to know that all lawful services will be provided to women in the new maternity hospital and that the will of the woman is respected fully

K\u00c3\u00b6p Levitra with Dapoxetine Receptfritt<\/a><\/div> ,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Speaking after a meeting of her party\u2019s ruling council on Saturday, Ms McDonald said the issue of ownership remained outstanding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat is still a very, very vexed question,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The opposition leader said the Government should press for a \u201cclean transfer\u201d of the site into state ownership.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The National Women\u2019s Council was among groups that took part in Saturday\u2019s protest at the D\u00e1il.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Orla O\u2019Connor, director of the council, said: \u201cWe know that the majority of the public is not happy with the current proposals around the National Maternity Hospital.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWomen must be able to trust in the independence of their maternity hospital, and know that all of the legally available reproductive services are available to them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe call on the Government to pause their current plans on the National Maternity Hospital and work towards a solution that ensures a fully publicly owned and secular National Maternity Hospital.\u201d<\/p>\n

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