Cabinet has agreed to sign off on the controversial deal for the new National Maternity Hospital.
The legal framework has been agreed by Cabinet Ministers after a two week pause after concerns were raised about the relocation to a site beside St Vincent's Hospital in Dublin.
Health Minister Stephen Donnelly is due to address the media later this morning alongside Justice Minister Helen McEntee and Children’s Minister Roderic O’Gorman.
Speaking on his way into Cabinet, the Taoiseach said he had "no doubt that all the guarantees are there in terms of all legally permissible services being made available.”
He said that he was "very minded by the appeals from the clinicians" who work "in the front line of maternity services, not just in Holles Street but across the country, (they are) very clear that this hospital should go ahead."
He added that "we need a modern centre of excellence for women and newborns."
The process of building the hospital needed to begin as "it would take some years".
Green Party leader Eamon Ryan was asked about concerns raised about his colleague Neasa Hourigan who said she continues to have “heartfelt and genuine concern around the pushing through of this deal.”
The Government TD called on the Cabinet to pause the decision for further scrutiny because trust doesn’t exist right now on this deal.
Minister Ryan said he was aware of Ms Hourigan's concerns but there would be no change to the term “clinically appropriate”.
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