The Labour Party has described the decision that the Sisters of Charity have been given sole-ownership of the new National Maternity Hospital in Dublin as "ludicrous".

Spokesperson on Health Alan Kelly said: "Given the events of recent weeks, not to mention the failure of religious congregations to meet their share of the cost of redress, it seems extraordinary to see the State continuing to fund an increase in the asset values of those same congregations.

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"The fact that the Sisters of Charity have been given sole-ownership of this land when they are party to the €128 million redress scheme with the State is ludicrous.

"I will be calling for Minister Simon Harris to give a full account on why this decision was made by his Department when the Dáil returns."

(CD/MH)