Two members of the HSE board say there must be 'absolute clarity' on the separation of church and state in the new National Maternity Hospital.
They've expressed concerns to the Oireachtas health committee, who are meeting Health Minister Stephen Donnelly today.
Opposition TDs are concerned the hospital's land won't be fully publicly owned - but will be leased to the state for 299 years.
Social Democrats TD and health committee member, Roisin Shortall, says the project shouldn't go ahead under that arrangement.
"If the nuns are only getting €10 a year in rent, why don't they just do what they promised to do which was to give the land to the people?
"Given the fact that the nuns will own the site, they will effectively own the building and they will own the company that will operate the National Maternity Hospital.
"What kind of control and influence does that give them?"
