The Taoiseach has said the 299-year lease on the National Maternity Hospital site is effective ownership.
Micheál Martin has told the Dáil there is a need to get on with building the new facility after years of talking about it.
"A 300 year lease at a tenner a year. To me, that is public ownership. By any objective analysis" Micheál Martin tells the Dáil on the NMH controversy
— Seán Defoe (@SeanDefoe) May 4, 2022
A memo on establishing the hospital was paused by Cabinet yesterday amid concerns over ownership and the ethos of the hospital.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said Catholic ethos is not an issue and all healthcare services will be available at the hospital:
"I would respectfully suggest that leasing land and a building for 300 years at a tenner a year, that is ownership by any stretch of the imagination.
"That is public ownership by any historic or objective analysis.
"300-year lease at a tenner a year."
