That is the reality of what you just-----

You are.

But not the company.

The Minister will not address the fact that-----

-----Holles Street will become a subsidiary-----

-----of St. Vincent's. That is the reality.

They will own and control the company.

The Minister has not answered the Ceann Comhairle's question.

The question is will he bring the proposal to the House before it is signed off on.

It will be a fait accompli .

We will not get an answer.

I am happy to contribute to the debate on this Bill and to tentatively welcome some of the provisions. I would, however, like to raise a few issues. Perhaps the Minister of State could respond to some of my questions in his wrap-up or at a later date. Despite my strong reservations about the IMF and some of the activities it has engaged in and continues to engage in, I state my support for the trusts referred to in the Bill and the intentions behind them. The catastrophe containment and relief trust allows the IMF …

I would like to send good wishes to the Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, for a speedy recovery. The Social Democrats support this legislation. I hope there will be an open approach on Committee Stage and on Report Stage in terms of taking on board proposals and suggestions from the Opposition. For far too long, assisted human reproduction practices in this country have remained unregulated. That has been very problematic. Responsibility for the provision of services has, in effect, been outsourced to the private …

The horrors being unleashed by Putin’s regime in Ukraine are grotesque and we would all agree they are totally inhumane. The suffering of the Ukrainian people is increasing with every passing day as Putin’s campaign of terror intensifies. We also agree that the unprecedented exodus of refugees from Ukraine demands an unprecedented response by this State. It is being reported that up to 200,000 refugees, and potentially even more, could ultimately seek safety in Ireland. That is a number that would pose truly unprec…

We all accept that the scale of this is absolutely unprecedented. It is very difficult to comprehend the nature and scale of the response that will be required. I am glad to hear about the cross-Government group that has been set up. I would like the Tánaiste to answer the question about the co-ordination of the local response and whether consideration have been given to reviving the Community Call network that was so effective. It has been reported that the Covid contingency fund of approximately €3.5 billion may …

I asked about the Covid contingency funding.

The Social Democrats and other parties have been looking for several weeks for time to be allowed for a debate on the proposals on a national maternity hospital. There is growing public concern about the fact that the Government seems to be about to sign a deal with the Religious Sisters of Charity to gift the new national maternity hospital to them. There can be no justification for this. Why on earth would we hand over a valuable asset like that to a private entity, whether religious or otherwise? We are looking …

We could use Government time.

For clarification, the Tánaiste has agreed to a debate, as he said, on the maternity hospital.

The Government is refusing it at the Business Committee.