Criticism over the Sisters of Charity gifting a site for the new National Maternity Hospital has reignited.

On Thursday, Tánaiste Leo Varadkar expressed concern in the Dáil about ownership of the land and the proposed new hospital’s governance. The land “has not been gifted to the State but to a private charity”, St Vincent’s Holdings with a 99-year lease to the State, he said.

“A hospital that is almost fully funded by the State should have a significant number, a majority appointed by the Government in my view.”

Mr Varadkar added that the “ideal scenario” would be for the State to own the site.

On Friday, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said that in an “ideal world” the State should own hospitals such as the new National Maternity Hospital where “very, very substantial” funding is provided by the taxpayer.

He urged stakeholders – specifying he wasn’t talking about the State – in the hospital project to reflect that the “ultimate objective” is to “look after the women of Ireland, and not to be becoming overly obsessive about ownership”.

The final bill for the new hospital is now expected to reach €800 million.

Politicians were briefed on Thursday that several attempts had been made to purchase the site. Subsequently, the Religious Sisters of Charity said it had “never at any point been contacted by Government or the State to discuss purchasing the site”.

The order has said it will have no role in the operation or ethos of the hospital. The Government has said all procedures legal in the State, including abortion, will be carried out.

On Saturday, it was reported that The Campaign Against Church Ownership of Women’s Healthcare said it would be “unthinkable” for the State to fund a new maternity hospital which had a Catholic ethos.

Labour Senator Ivana Bacik said the new hospital should have a secular charter, unfettered by any religious doctrine. “I remain concerned that the governance arrangements currently proposed will still allow for the influence of Catholic ethos on the type of care provided to patients.

There is no evidence it will have a Catholic ethos.

Also on Saturday, Tánaiste Leo Varadkar said there is a “risk” that the long-planned relocation of the national maternity hospital to the new St Vincent’s site does not go ahead, due to difficulties agreeing a deal for the move,

The State “would be happy” to buy the site for the new hospital from St Vincent’s Hospital Group (SVHG) or the Religious Sisters of Charity.

“In terms of red lines for the Government and for us, this hospital has to be publicly owned, and it has to be the case that any obstetric or gynaecological service that is legal in this State has to be available in that hospital,” he said.

On Sunday, he guaranteed that abortions, IVF and other procedures contrary to Catholic ethos will be carried out in the new hospital.

On Monday, it was reported that the Government would make renewed efforts to explore the acquisition of lands where the new hospital is to be built.