Hundreds call on Stephen Donnelly to repeal deal on new National Maternity Hospital

Many feel it will create a barrier to some medical procedures.

Hundreds of Uplift members have sent messages to Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly and other speakers attending the Fianna Fáil Women’s Health Conference. Uplift joined Our Maternity Hospital campaigners outside the Fianna Fáil Women’s Health Conference to call for the hospital to be 100 per cent state-owned and free of religious influence. The HSE’s decision this week to approve the legal framework sought by the Minister for Health has caused concern as some feel it paves the way for retaining church involvement in, ethos and management. Campaigners believe such a level of disregard for the future of women’s healthcare is a regressive step backwards on the progress made since Repeal the 8th. Dr. Peter Boylan, former Master of the National Maternity Hospital has highlighted that the language determined in the legal framework and the use of “clinically appropriate” creates a barrier to abortion access, in contravention to the 2018 Termination of Pregnancy Act as well as elective sterilisation, IVF and other services not deemed appropriate by religious organisations. Speaking with us today Uplift campaigner, Layla Wade, says;

“We want a future where, no matter who you are or where you come from, we have healthcare that is safe, trustworthy, accessible to everyone, publicly owned and free of religious ethos. The level of State investment into this piece of vital infrastructure, to be then poured into the pockets of a Vatican-approved private company is utterly unacceptable.”

Campaigners say questions remain about how and why up to €1 billion euro of public money, earmarked for this piece of essential State infrastructure, will be paid to a private company, approved by the church.