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HEALTH MINISTER STEPHEN Donnelly has said that the Government has received legal advice that there is no guarantee a compulsory purchase order (CPO) of the land earmarked for the new National Maternity Hospital site would be successful.
Speaking to reporters in Dublin, Donnelly said that he had received “clear” advice from the Attorney General that there was “absolutely no guarantee that a CPO would succeed”.
“We would need to show that we need to own the land, I would imagine that St Vincent’s, or indeed the courts would say ‘Well you do own the land for the next 300 years’.
“So there is no guarantee that it would succeed.”
Donnelly also said that the plan to co-locate the National Maternity Hospital (NMH) at a site at St Vincent’s in Dublin is meant to be “a partnership”, and that this partnership may be complicated or abandoned due to legal proceedings required to compulsory purchase the land.
His comments come as Transport Minister Eamon Ryan told the Dáil that his own view is that the legal documentation shows that there will not be religious interference in the new hospital.
When asked by Opposition members why the Government can’t just purchase the site, he said the Government had approached St Vincent’s with such an offer, but it was turned down.
Ryan said he believe a 300 lease “is akin to ownership”, something the Taoiseach also said yesterday.
Walking away “in my mind would not be the right approach”, added the minister.
“Further delay, in my mind, is not the right choice,” he said.
Transport Minister Eamon Ryan says Minister Catherine Martin and Cabinet decided that it would be very good to have a debate and fully scrutinise the legal documents.
— Christina Finn (@christinafinn8) May 5, 2022
The existing situation at the NMH is 'intolerable', he says. pic.twitter.com/OG9OmYHRcP
Sinn Féin’s Pearse Doherty said concerns remain about the ownership, while Independent TD Catherine Connolly asked why the gift of the land never materialised.
Speaking after attending an event in Dublin to mark the International Day of the Midwife, Mary Brosnan, the director of midwifery and nursing in the NMH, told reporters that she wished to reassure the public that she had never seen services limited by religious influence during her career.
Brosnan emphasised the importance of the facilities at the new maternity hospital, which will include 120 single rooms and a corridor that will link the NMH to acute services at St Vincent’s.
“This is a debate that shouldn’t need to be carried on,” Brosnan said.
“It will not be bound by religious influence.
“I think it’s the wrong argument.”
Dr Cliona Murphy, clinical lead for the HSE’s National Women and Infants Health Programme, said that clinicians would not “drop the ball” when the NMH moves to Vincent’s.
“From a clinical perspective and a national perspective, this has to happen.
“Forty per cent of the clinicians working in Holles Street also work in Vincent’s, so the clinical connections are there, and need to be built on, so it’s the physical infrastructure that’s holding this up.”
“People have asked that we own the hospital,” Donnelly said.
“We will own the hospital.
“People have asked that there will be clinical independence, there will be clinical independence.
“All of those very proper requests have been met, and we’ve gone further.
“We’re essentially going to own the land for the next 300 years, and in 300 years’ time if we have to have a conversation about the land, we can have it then.
“There is no link between the land and what happens inside the hospital.
“GP practices are not built on State land, I’ve never heard anyone previously suggest that we should own the land that Holles Street is built on, or that the Coombe is built on, or that the Rotunda is built on.”
Donnelly also added that of the 19 maternity hospitals or units across the country, 11 are providing termination of pregnancy services and eight are not.
“The eight maternity settings that are not providing full abortion services are HSE hospitals, and not voluntary hospitals, Donnelly said.
“In fact, it was the voluntary hospitals that really led the way on this.”
With additional reporting by Christina Finn
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I was one of the doctors volunteering at the medical tent today, as I do every year. All of us are volunteers (there were 4 drs there with countless nurses, APs, paramedics and EMTs- all volunteers so no tax payers money wasted)
I think it’s shameful some of the comments on this in relation to people climbing who got injured. Would you make the same comments for injuries (and deaths?) at a sports match/ festival/ airshow because it’s not to your liking?
It was a good year in relation to the decreased number of injuries/ illnesses- Id like to think possibly because people were more aware and took their time climbing.
@Lisa Ní Chuinnegáin Guthrie: Is there an improved Christian Attitude after those walks,? Is the Church relevant in such ‘Pagan’ rituals,? Or are they working hand in hand with ‘Paganism ‘!!
@Lisa Ní Chuinnegáin Guthrie: Thank you to you and the other volunteers for making this more safe for people. If there were more people like ye and less people making negative comments, Ireland would be much better place.
@ÓDuibhír Abú: Would you not think it might be better to look for answers from a priest rather than a doctor ?
@Tommy Roche: thanks- haven’t a clue how to answer that. I’ll just stay over here in my corner doing my medical thing……..!
@Lisa Ní Chuinnegáin Guthrie: Civil Defence, coast guard and health service is tax funded but I agree with your general take. Fair play for giving up your time for others.
@Tommy Roche: Priest is a collaborator with the ‘Pagan’ ritual.!!
@Lisa Ní Chuinnegáin Guthrie: still, it’s people climbing mountain out of sheer stupidity. The old youd give a hall pass to, the rest are just clowns.
@Bryan Yelahw: but it’s tax funded regardless of whether this climb goes ahead or not so makes no difference
@Lisa Ní Chuinnegáin Guthrie: well done for volunteering. And also fair play for equating this event to other entertainment (air show..etc) takes guts to present it like it is
The number injured is less than 0.1% of total climbers. Nothing to see here.
@Peter Casey: Why didn’t their god save them?
@Niall O’Neill: maybe he did. I didn’t hear of any fatal accidents on it today
@Niall O’Neill: That reminds of the old joke with the punchline “I sent two boats and a helicopter, what more could I do?”
@shay o’brien: As pastimes go it’s solid exercise and probably uplifting for those who do it. Let them carry on. And remember, Ghosts don’t care if you believe in them or not….
@Peter Casey: idiots one and all, climbing a mountain for religious purposes. In this day and age.
@Nial D: only idiots think everyone climbing it has done so for religious reasons
Glad the tradition is continuing. Dublin media wouldn’t understand.
should sue the mountain
@ed w: it will pay by gold from the reputed gold vein that resides in that mountain yet to be mined …..
@ed w:
Very negative article. What about the increased numbers of people climbing this year or the good weather.
There’s better ways to spend a Sunday if you ask me
@MAX POWER: good for you
@MAX POWER: noone asked you
@MAX POWER:
@Joan Kelly: max has all the power
@MAX POWER: max power has all the power to talk utter shite
Our equivalent of the running of the bulls. Long may it last.
@Squiddley Diddley: Bulls are very real
@Paul Lanigan: So is the mountain.
@shay o’brien: of course they are but they’re costing the tax payers money to be rescued when something happens to them because of make believe nonsense. They can do what they want but should be made pay the bills or left there if they get injured . Their choice
@John Paul: you can’t be calling it make believe nonsense either that’s just being disrespectful to religious beliefs
@John Paul: Everybody needs a break, climb a mountain or jump in a lake..
@Squiddley Diddley: hahaha
@shay o’brien: I can. That’s my belief. They are allowed to believe what they want the same way people believe in fairies, santa Claus, aliens, leprechauns etc
@John Paul: typical angry arrogant athiest named after a pope
@Vote4Pedro: I’m not angry with anything. Funnily enough it’s religious nuts who are always angry about everything from contraception to abortion to same sex marriage and anything else that’s none of their business. Religion has caused most wars in this world by angry people. By the way I was named after my grandfather and I can tell you he definitely was never a pope
@Vote4Pedro: from the hysteria of a bygone age
@John Paul: You’re making too much sense John Paul. We can’t be having that here on a Sunday of all days.
@Kev: ssshhh don’t let the hysterical religious pilgrims hear you saying that.
@John Paul: mountain rescue is a volunteer effort. Mountain rescue teams receive very little in the way of taxpayers’ money – less than €200,000 per year, or €0.04 per person per annum. Anyone who is injured and requires an airlift is charged for that. Any medical fees are covered by the injured party. So, they do get bills.
@shay o’brien: but it is make believe and if you’re offended by the truth there’s something seriously wrong with you
@John Paul: how are they costing the taxpayers money. All the groups there are volunteers. If you had a cardiac issue or bad accident at home there’s an equal chance that you’d be airlifted to hospital too
@John Paul: i was watching the six o
clock news but failed to see any “hysterical pilgrims”. Why do other peoples beliefs threaten you so much? You accuse the church of always interfering in stuff thats none of their business, yet I would suggest that other peoples beliefs are exactly that: none of your business. Maybe you are a little insecure in your own beliefs.
@Paul Lanigan: people are entitled to believe in what they want. If people’s faith in whatever gives them some comfort etc in life, why not. Who are you to tell them that they should not be believing in stuff
@Eamonn O Connell: and I’d pay the bill
@Seamus Mac: no one’s beliefs bother me or threaten me at all. Especially the threat of heaven and hell and all that nonsense. On the contrary I find it quite amusing. My beliefs are soundly secure. I don’t believe in magical sky wizards, Santa Claus , leprechauns or any other fantasy stuff. The fact that you had to come here to defend your beliefs speaks volumes about your own insecurities
@John Paul: as will anybody who was airlifted today
@Brian Ó Dálaigh: fair enough. Fair play to the volunteers. Do the guards that are there voluntary or paid?
@Eamonn O Connell: all the groups are volunteering? I doubt the gardai that were there are
@John Paul: Garda we’re down doing traffic I’d assume as they would at any large event are you gonna ban the GAA, Slane,electric picnic,the ploughing championship,pride etc too. I never heard of public order problems up the mountain but I could be wrong
@John Paul: you’re jumping from one excuse to another. Just be honest and upfront. You don’t like religion and just want an excuse to рiss on other people’s beliefs. I’m 100% atheist, but I have no problem with this pilgrimage. I’ve no problem with my taxes going to pay for the Gardaí and any other service there, just as I have no problem with the Gardaí or any other service attending sporting events, concerts, etc if it means helping with safety, people’s health, traffic management, etc. You want to stop events because of personal beliefs or enjoyment in case it might necessitate a tax-supported service, then you will need to prohibit the free movement of people and public gatherings. That’s not realistic.
@John Paul: guards work seven days a week so they would be working anyways. Obviously a few extra than normal but nothing more than what would be at any other big event around the country
@John Paul: your comments would suggest otherwise. What are your secure beliefs anyway?
@John Paul: so if a person goes out on a motorcycle and rides like a lunatic, crashes and is badly injured they should be left on the side of the road to die without taxpayers funds being used to supply emergency services ……. after all it was their choice to take the risk
@shay o’brien: of course its make believe nonsense. You can respect the individual believer, but the belief itself is laughable and moronic.
Ah here.
There’s no such place as Castlebar Hospital
@Left Zebra: but there is a hospital in Castlebar.
@Michael Treacy: yes. It’s called Mayo university Hospital. Not that it matters really. Just highlighting the lack of even the tiniest bit of research on these articles.
Emergency services should have left them on the mountain. A prayer to God would have saved them.
@Ed: so you would advocate discrimination against people based on their religious beliefs?
@Ed: I’m an atheist, a militant atheist according to some. But this hike up Croke Patrick has ancient origins, even pre Christian, pagan ones. It’s a tradition that should never be allowed out, part of our heritage. Its a beautiful mountain, a challenging hike and a great day out. Long may it last.
@James Wallace: #allowed to die out
@Ed: Maybe they prayed to be rescued?
Bet there will be plenty of claims against Mayo County Council. Guess there was lots of rubbish left up there too. Maybe there should be a fitness test before being allowed to climb
@Peter Byrne: 1-Why? 2-Not as much as you may think! 3-How would you run such a scheme?
@Peter Byrne: you bet & you guess?
@Peter Byrne: Perhaps you also believe that I as a senior citizen should get a fitness certificate so that I may be allowed to cross the road…….
Imagine if this was a music festival or something, the same people defending those taking up the emergency services time would be very quick to say, make them pay for the call outs…..i get this is peoples faith and religious beliefs etc. However there needs to be something done to cut down on these incidents as well, cos at the end of the day peoples religious beliefs are being paid for by the taxpayer if anything happens on these things
@Thomas Newell: most of the groups are volunteers Thomas and loads of different festivals and occasions are covered like this one but just cos it’s a religious thing you want to have a go. How much did the pride festival cost the taxpayers to run and have first aid etc but I bet you weren’t on complaining about that. We have a population of people with a wide and diverse range of beliefs ,customs and festivals. Live and let live
@Thomas Newell: Tax payers money is also funding Dog racing and just a Q what you doing about it or is it that you just like to make comments , talk is cheap.
Sometimes there really is a lot to be said for NOT having another mass
Pilgrims get HIGH on the Mayo Reek and with the amount of people going up and down the Reek eventually they will flatten it. Time for An Taisce and our National Parks to get involved.
@James Keogh: probably more people go up carrantoohil every year. Do you want that limited too or maybe we should stop all outdoor pursuits. Or maybe we should only limit them pesky bible bashers from practicing a religious ceremony on the traditional day
@Eamonn O Connell: Post was a Joke, so settle and further it wasn’t a Kerry Mountain joke but I’m sure people get HIGH on the Kerry hills as well as the Mayo hill pilgrims. The idea that people would flatten a Mountain by walking on it was an obvious piss pull and amazed that anyone would fall for it, but there are always a few. ‘~’
@James Keogh: actually thought you were going on like other posters here about how they’re damaging the mountain with their pilgrimage. Apologies !
Why bother if you’re not able
@STOIC SAVAGE: the hike up Croke Patrick is tricky. Lors of loose stones and shale. Even the fittest and most experienced can come a cropper on it.
@James Wallace: soyboys
Id worry more about the loss of life at Medjugorje where old people vanish on the holy mountain and are not found for ages in the bushes
How long will it take for the foolish to realize that they have been misled ??? Read a book all you who walk this path…
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