Ahern: Emergency law not camouflage

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern yesterday denied that emergency health legislation being rushed through the Dáil this week was “political camouflage” to help railroad the Government’s co-location plans through the Dáil.

Last week, the Government revealed there may be constitutional problems with a Health Act dating from 1961 that sets up corporate bodies. The legal status of some 19 bodies, including the Blood Transfusion Service Board and the boards of St James’s and Beaumont Hospitals would be affected.

But yesterday, Labour leader Eamon Gilmore challenged the Taoiseach on the legislation, asking why it had taken six weeks to announce the tabling of emergency legislation.