Thread by @UpliftIRL

The Health committee on #NMH is kicking off now, questioning @DonnellyStephen on the dodgy deal.

Politicians are armed with fresh legal analysis where expert lawyers have noted 'significant' concerns with the deal.

Read it here 👉 uplift.ie/wp-content/upl…

@DonnellyStephen We're sitting in on the committee room with @OurMatHosp 💪

@DonnellyStephen @OurMatHosp During his opening speech, Donnelly makes direct eye contact with us as he claims there will be 'no religious involvement' in the new #NMH.

We hope politicians ask about the ethical framework that refers to Sister Mary Aikenhead in the updated constitution of the #NMH DAC.

@DonnellyStephen @OurMatHosp While we're on the topic - Senior Counsel notes
"The phrase '…clinically appropriate & legally permissible healthcare services', is itself not defined and this phase would appear to implicitly include ethical
considerations & which could extend to matters of religious ethos."

@DonnellyStephen @OurMatHosp Questions asked by @BernardDurkanTD on religious involvement, the makeup of new Board& onditions placed on HSE re: lease.

Our analysis notes:'If HSE being considered to have
breached the covenant concerning 'the permitted use', this could result in determination of
the lease.'

@DonnellyStephen @OurMatHosp @BernardDurkanTD 'Permitted use' being (there's that phrase again!) "all clinically appropriate and legally permissible healthcare services"

@DonnellyStephen @OurMatHosp @BernardDurkanTD .@davidcullinane asks @DonnellyStephen was it the intention last week to approve the deal in Cabinet in fell swoop.

Cullinane asserts the Minister should protect interest of the State, and those interests should be the taxpayers. The SVHG will own the land, not the State.

@DonnellyStephen @OurMatHosp @BernardDurkanTD @davidcullinane Not only will SVHG own the land, hey will also own the buildings. As per the analysis: "I have to say I am surprise it would appear that the State / HSE will not own the building itself. It has been repeatedly represented only the land & not the building will be owned by SVHG

@DonnellyStephen @OurMatHosp @BernardDurkanTD @davidcullinane Minister says the Constitution is 'the most essential' document.

From our analysis: 'while the Constitution
of NMH DAC refers to carrying out services w/ religious ethos it is unclear whether there is a similar phrase contained in constitution of SVHG' (the owner, ultimately)

@DonnellyStephen @OurMatHosp @BernardDurkanTD @davidcullinane .@JohnLahart says many emails he's received from the women of Ireland are 'filled with fear' due to a legacy of esp. women's healthcare in this country. But he says HE feels that those issues have been 'adequately dealt with'& makes reference 'catastrophising' of the issue.

Deputy @RoisinShortall questions the Ministers on figures on the scale of range of reproductive healthcare services - figures, not details currently provided at St. Vincent's.

'Thanks for public outcry, thankfully, the documents have now been made available.' @RoisinShortall commending people power, all of us who made contact with TDs and said we want a 100% public and secular #NMH.

Asking does the Minster expect we'll need more time to assess the documents (published LAST week) before Cabinet decide on the deal NEXT week, the Minister says he thinks the deal has been "sufficiently scrutinised".

.@RoisinShortall makes references to numerous claims that campaigners and those asking questions have threatened to delay the project. Minister says he hasn't heard those claims. Shortall concludes the delay is "as a result of Govt failure to get this over the line."

She finishes with the various definitions of 'clinically appropriate' being produced by the Minister, HSE and clinicians.

@neasa_neasa agrees that we need a more watertight definition and improvement of 'clinically appropriate'.

.@neasa_neasa goes on "this places all the power in those who can decide what 'clinically appropriate' means". We have a trust deficit in this country "is there anything can we do right now to address the ambiguity of this phrase?"

Minister replies "we'll see."

.@bridsmithTD says religious interference doesn't always come in the form of nuns in veils. It's a deep-seated problem that runs core to this country. "These are not concerns that can be dismissed or addressed despite Minister insisting '6 references to no religious influence'."

She goes on to use the terms Senior Counsel Stephen Dodd that ownership and governance structures are 'labyrinthine' & 'Kafka-esque.' Read Dodd's legal opinion on the CPO options of the land. uplift.ie/summary-of-leg…

Why do Vincents have continued interest in ownership?

Minister Donnelly says - almost incredulously - that 8 hospitals that don't provide abortion services are "actually run by the HSE". Is this meant to be reassurance for us to have more trust in a voluntary hospital?

.@bridsmithTD worries that Donnelly is creating a 'legal quagmire' for years to come. We already have weak abortions laws, and are we subjecting people in years to come to have to be dragged through the courts for their rights.

@conwayforclare says he is largely in agreement with Brid. The religious influence is 'covert'. It's rampant in education and healthcare "unfortunately". He says there is something "fundamentally ironic" that the 8 hospitals not providing abortion services are State hospitals.

@conwayforclare Minister assures that religious involvement has been taken out, he references the 'golden share' gives him great power to ensure so. But as @Tupp_Ed notes, the 'golden share' is subordinate the principle object which is....'clinically appropriate'.

@conwayforclare @Tupp_Ed

https://twitter.com/UpliftIRL/status/1524362102579806208?s=20&t=ePashJsuWxhZYm4nvXIScA

Here's an article summing up the session today breakingnews.ie/ireland/minist….

Lots of politicians spoke to constituents getting in touch, sharing their views on the #NMH deal with the legal analysis - this is people power in action 💪

For those who want to read this - @threadreaderapp unroll please!