State ‘does not have automatic right to women’s trust’, says Minister

The government recognizes that “the state does not have an automatic right to the unified trust of women in this country,” said one minister.

Secretary of State Mary Butler spoke yesterday during a debate in the Seanad on the current issues surrounding the ownership and clinical independence of the new National Maternity Hospital.

“We understand the concerns and we understand where they are coming from,” she said.

We also recognize that the state does not have an automatic right to the uniform trust of women in this country as they have failed in the past. “

The hospital dispute has returned to the fore of Irish politics this month after years of stagnation over the construction of a new state-of-the-art facility in Dublin.

In 2017, St. Vincent’s Healthcare Group, a holding company of the Sisters of Charity who currently own the land on which the hospital is to be built, rejected a request from the Minister of Health to consider a full site transfer.

Concerns about clinical independence

Activists from across the political spectrum have raised concerns about the hospital’s clinical independence should the land be owned by a religious order.

Ms. Butler said the 2017 Mulvey Agreement provides for the creation of a new company “that will have clinical and operational, financial and budgetary independence in the delivery of health care services.

Most importantly, the agreement ensures that a full range of services will be available in the new hospital without any religious, ethnic or other distinction. “

“As mentioned earlier, the preferred option for the government would be to build the new hospital on land owned by the state.”

Ms. Butler added: “The Minister of Health categorically states that he will not make proposals to the Cabinet unless he is absolutely convinced that the state’s clear goals will be achieved through a cast-iron framework.”

Stephen Donnelly will continue to engage with “all parties involved” once the agreements are in place, Ms. Butler said.

Protesters outside the Leinster House in May. File image: Sasko Lazarov / RollingNews.ie

St. Vincent’s Holdings has so far denied the state’s application to buy the land.

Senator Lynn Boylan said Ireland feels like Groundhog Day because “every time we take a leap forward and become a more open and progressive society for our people, and especially our women, we are transported back to an Ireland of the past .

For too long, women’s health has been at the back of the queue and even today, after the 8th amendment was repealed, only half of our maternity clinics and one in ten general practitioners offer abortion services.

“If the Sisters of Mercy are sincere in their offer to donate land to the state for the National Maternity Hospital, then it must be just that – an unconditional gift.”

Similarly, Senator Alice-Mary Higgins said there was “very real, concrete evidence of the dangers we face if we proceed with the proposed model.”

“We shouldn’t argue women in Ireland for another 100 years.

“There should be no more arguments and there should be state property.”

source https://dailyhealthynews.ca/state-does-not-have-automatic-right-to-womens-trust-says-minister/