Mary Lou McDonald: National Maternity Hospital deal 'is about private interests trumping public good'

Retention of ownership of the land by the healthcare group is "so it can use the value of it as leverage for future financial transactions", said the Sinn Féin leader.

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said the crux of this issue is that the land has not been gifted. Picture: Brian Lawless/PA Wire

The complex ownership arrangement for the proposed National Maternity Hospital is to allow the private owners of the land to leverage the value of the building for future transactions, the Dáil has heard.

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald challenged Taoiseach Micheál Martin on comments he made to the effect that such questions about the ownership amount to a "red herring".