Taoiseach defends Mater decision
Mr Ahern was responding in the Dáil to yesterday’s report in the Irish Examiner which revealed that Mr Ahern discussed a letter proposing a two-campus solution with then Tánaiste Mary Harney in May 2006.
The letter from Professor Denis Gill of Temple Street Children’s Hospital proposed the children’s hospital be split between the Mater on Dublin’s northside and Tallaght on the southside, with the bulk of the beds to be located at the Mater.
Mr Ahern replied to Prof Gill saying he noted his views with interest and he had discussed them with Ms Harney.
However, a month later, in June 2006, the Government plumped for a single site option at the Mater.
In the Dáil yesterday, Labour leader Pat Rabbitte raised the issue during Leader’s Question.
“Did the Taoiseach read today’s edition of the Irish Examiner to the effect that the Government was counselled during the month prior to the Cabinet decision that the most feasible solution was a hospital under single governance with a campus on the north and south sides of Dublin,” he said.
Mr Ahern denied there had been any review of the decision of last summer. He said that the recommendation of the review group was that, given the population of Ireland, there should only be one hospital providing tertiary and specialist care for children and it was on the basis of this conclusion that the Mater was ultimately chosen.
