With NMH finally signed off, is it time to talk about religious influence on health services?

A protest outside Leinster House, Dublin, last Saturday against the ownership and governance structure of the new National Maternity Hospital. Picture: Sam Boal/PA

The Cabinet finally signed off on an agreement to build the new National Maternity Hospital (NMH) this week following years of public protest and debate, which did bring about alterations to the final version of the deal.

In the last two weeks, there was an information blitz from doctors and lawyers, as well as Government politicians, expressing their certainty that the co-location of a maternity hospital on the campus of St Vincent's Healthcare Group (SVHG) is much-needed progress.