The Dáil has agreed a Sinn Féin motion calling for the new National Maternity Hospital to be built on the St Vincent's Hospital campus as quickly as possible, while seeking to legally guarantee independence from all non-medical influence in its clinical operations within the laws of the State.

The motion also said that the investment of €300 million by the State should be reflected in the ownership of the new hospital through full public ownership.

Minister for Health Simon Harris withdrew the Government's counter motion in what he called "the interest of bipartisanship" and a commitment to parties working together to improve maternity services.

Mr Harris said he believed that there was creative space to examine the ownership issue including the suggestion of a long-term lease.

Mr Harris said no hospital would be built that does not provide women with access to every health service they need in Ireland today or that may be legal in the future.

"I cannot be any clearer than that", he said.

Mr Harris earlier said he intends to put proposals to the Cabinet on a process and structure for divesting health facilities to the State in the coming weeks.

Speaking in the Dáil, he also said that he intends to meet representatives from St Vincent's University Hospital and the National Maternity Hospital in the coming weeks over the State's role in the new National Maternity Hospital.

During Minister's Questions, Mr Harris said he intended to meet representatives of both hospitals to further consider the legal mechanisms necessary to "absolutely protect the State's investment including ownership".

He told People Before Profit TD Bríd Smith that the independence of the hospital was assured in the agreement.

However, he told Fianna Fáil health spokesman Billy Kelleher that the process for the new maternity hospital would be separate and distinct from the divestment proposals so as not to delay it.

Last month, it emerged that the Religious Sisters of Charity was to be given ownership of the €300m taxpayer-funded hospital because it owns the land on which it is to be built on the campus of St Vincent's Hospital in Dublin.