Over 40,000 sign petition to prevent Sisters of Charity becoming owners of maternity hospital

[Rob Northall]

Click this Link and Sign then Share

the Petition to

"Block Sisters of Charity as 'sole owners'

of National Maternity Hospital"

The Department of Health has insisted the new hospital will be independently run.

The new building will be located at St Vincent's Hospital in south Dublin

Image: Department of Health

Updated 8.44pm

MORE THAN 40,000 people have signed a petition calling for the Sisters of Charity to be prevented from becoming the owner of the national maternity hospital.

Yesterday, TDs and councillors were among those to criticise the fact a religious group which has failed to deliver its full share to the redress scheme for institutional abuse survivors is to be the owner of the new hospital.

The Sisters of Charity own the land at St Vincent’s Hospital in Dublin 4 where the new hospital is being built.

The news was first reported by the Times of Ireland last month, and garnered political reaction after being reported by the Irish Times yesterday.

A petition seeking to prevent the group becoming the sole owner of the hospital has, at the time of publication, been signed over 40,000 times.

Emily Duffy of Uplift, the group behind the petition, said: “This is an issue that people in Ireland are clearly outraged about.

“It’s rare we see a petition go viral so rapidly, and it shows that people are deeply troubled by the State’s utter disregard for the many victims of abuse which took place in institutions run by orders such as the Sisters of Charity.”

Health Minister Simon Harris has sought to play down the issue, stressing the hospital will be run independently.

Source: Simon Harris/Twitter

In a statement, the Department of Health said: “The identity and ethos of the current NMH will be retained. The new company will have clinical and operational independence in the provision of maternity, gynaecology and neonatal services, without religious, ethnic or other distinction, as well as financial and budgetary independence.

This independence will be assured by the reserved powers which are set out in the agreement and which will be copper fastened by the golden share which will be held by the Minister for Health.

“These reserved powers can only be amended with the unanimous written approval of the Directors and with the approval of the Minister for Health.”

Speaking to Today with Seán O’Rourke on RTÉ Radio 1, Kieran Mulvey, the former chair of the Workplace Relations Commission, said money owed by the Sisters of Charity to the redress scheme was not discussed during negotiations to move the hospital.

Mulvey acted as a mediator between Holles Street, the current site of the national maternity hospital, and St Vincent’s during the negotiation process.

Source - http://www.thejournal.ie/sisters-of-charity-national-maternity-hosp...

[jack colleton]

Shared On Twitter.

[jack colleton]

The Minister Of Health (A Doctor?)  Has Already Failed Survivor's Of His Party Abuse.

[pauline jackson]

 These women are not fit to run a womens health service. Think of the heartless way thay have treated women over the years thay were trusted. Its shocking. Women and new born babys deserve better treatment than that which thay can provide.

[jack colleton]

Fair Comment.

[pauline jackson]

A women and her baby died in Ireland not long ago. She was a trained dentist and she knew that she needed an abortion. It was refused for religous reasons because of a law. If a trained doctor can do that then nuns would act even worse. Religion and health care for women doesent work. And these nuns wouldnt accept either. Its so  clear. Its a act by the government by giving this hospital to the religous by thay are hiding from responsabity again.

..

[jack colleton]

Crystal Clear Pauline.