Rotunda board must clarify spend of public money – Neville

Fine Gael TD for Kildare North, Joe Neville today called on the Board of the Rotunda Hospital to clarify their use of public money.

Speaking today Deputy Neville said, “The most obvious question arises in relation to legal fees paid to Arthur Cox or any other law firm.

“Where is the money for this legal advice to seemingly circumvent government policy, the hospital’s Service Level Agreement with the HSE and the contractual terms of its Public Only Consultants Contract coming from?

“Are these bills paid for from the €100 million given to the Rotunda by the state to care for women or paid for by other income such as charitable foundation income.

“The Board of the Rotunda and indeed any voluntary hospital must understand that they are not so independent that they are above scrutiny of the use of public funds.

“The time for obfuscation between public and private is over. When the taxpayer pays, the taxpayer deserves to know where its money is going to and that the money is being used in the manner intended – for public health services,” concluded Deputy Neville.