Irish Examiner view: Women real losers in national maternity hospital delay

Ireland needs a modern, fit-for-purpose facility without further delay

At least now, there is widespread agreement on the need to ensure the State has complete control over the hospital and its lands when Holles St hospital moves from the city centre to the St Vincent’s University Hospital campus.

It seems incredible that we are still discussing issues relating to the private ownership and control of the new National Maternity Hospital so many years after the project was first mooted, while women continue to receive medical treatment in a building designed for the needs of the 19th century.

Further delays seem inevitable, too, given the lack of progress outlined by Tánaiste Leo Varadkar in the Dáil on Thursday. He said the State had tried everything possible to purchase the land the hospital will be built on, but had failed to do so. At least now, there is widespread agreement on the need to ensure the State has complete control over the hospital and its lands when Holles St hospital moves from the city centre to the St Vincent’s University Hospital campus.