Greens: Harney left in lurch on hospital location

The Green Party has claimed that the Taoiseach's remarks in Riyadh, regarding the location of the new children's hospitals have left the Minister for Health in a difficult position.

Mr Ahern admitted he had always had misgivings about locating the new hospital with the Mater because of the danger it might delay the overall development of the complex.

Green Party health spokesperson John Gormley TD has renewed his call on the Government to go back to the drawing board on the issue.

Deputy Gormley said: "This was the usual carefully crafted obfuscation by the Taoiseach, which has left Mary Harney in the lurch.

"She has constantly defended the HSE decision to locate the new hospital in the Taoiseach's constituency and now finds that Bertie Ahern is trying to back track for political reasons.

"The Chairman of the Mater made it clear that the Taoiseach had given him commitments that the new hospital would be located in the Mater. Since then, however, the feedback from the constituencies on the Southside, as I know from my own canvassing, has convinced the Taoiseach that a dignified retreat is necessary.

"Before Christmas Mary Harney informed me in the Dáil that parents involved in Crumlin hospital were anxious to move to the Mater site. I have seen no evidence of this.

"In fact, my constituents are saying quite the opposite. She has chosen to wilfully ignore the advice of experts like Dr Pat Doherty. It's time to re-examine all the options.

"Best practice and not vested interests must determine this vital decision, which will affect the lives of children and their parents for generations to come," concluded Mr Gormley.