National Maternity Hospital gravy train

Dear Editor,

The legal advice that a 299 year lease with multiple conditions, some undeclared and some unknown, is the same as full ownership is propounded by either fools or knaves. Ask the person charged with extending or obtaining a new lease in 299 years and what conditions will apply if they are the same.

Neither are doctors and consultants independent voices in the issues of ownership or clinical independence. The St. Vincent’s site will be infinitely more valuable with the National Maternity Hospital located there and will afford those doctors and consultants a not inconsiderable stream of income in perpituity from the state.

Full state ownership or bust are the only true options. This bill won’t stop at €800 million or even €1.6 billion.

Kevin T Finn, Kingston Close, Mitchelstown,

Co Cork.