IRELAND
Irish Independent
Shane Phelan
April 25 2017
Adverse public opinion about the decision to allow the Sisters of Charity to own the proposed new National Maternity Hospital is threatening to derail the deal put in place for the publicly-funded construction of the €300m facility. But are people getting worked up about nothing when there is a deal in place guaranteeing the independence of the hospital?
An agreement document states the hospital’s clinical services will be free of any religious considerations, while other safeguards include a ‘golden share’ being held by the State to ensure the hospital’s independence.
A lien, or legal charge on the hospital, would also mean it cannot be sold. But not everyone is convinced these measures will guarantee that clinical decisions are not in some way subject to religious interference.
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