Labour Party firmly against any religious involvement in new maternity hospital

The Labour Spokesperson on Health, Alan Kelly has vehemently opposed any religious interference in the new maternity hospital at St. Vincent’s.

Minister for Health Simon Harris has yet to implement a compulsory purchase order to buy the religious owned site at St Vincent’s Hospital for the State, despite being urged by Labour to do so as far back as April 2017. Labour Spokesperson on Health, Alan Kelly has again expressed his concerns that the government aren't doing enough to ensure that the new maternity hospital will not have any religious ties. The maternity hospital is due to move from Holles Street, Dublin, to St Vincent’s, where it will be run by an independent company.

However, this company is planned to be owned by the St Vincent’s Healthcare Group, whose sole shareholders are the Sisters of Charity.

The Irish Times reported back in April last year that Mr Kelly condemned this by saying:

"In their order, mothers babies and young women were literally abused and treated disgracefully,” he said of the Sisters of Charity. "In any other western society, would this even be considered? It can’t happen, it won’t happen and we will not allow it to happen."

And now the TD has reiterated his frustrations, stressing that if necessary, the state should purchase the religious owned site in order to get public control over it. In the wake of the repeal movement, this is particularly pressing he says:

"In light of recent legislation which is before the Oireachtas to regulate abortion, a part of reproductive healthcare which will have to be offered in Irish hospitals, it is important that we ensure there are no barriers put in place to care."

Legislation for abortion is due to be presented to the Oireachtas by Christmas, with services coming into effect early next year. Last week Simon Harris issued a warning to TDs attempting to delay this legislation saying:

"Irish people gave a clear instruction in the referendum in May to remove the Eighth Amendment and to care for Irish women in their own country. We must act on that instruction without delay."