Lenihan should end Mater site madness

HEALTH Minister Mary Harney is not for turning.

Her denial of the reality that the Mater site is the wrong location for the new children’s hospital is shocking to the vast majority of parents and health professionals all over Ireland.

One could be forgiven for believing we are living in a dictatorship. No consultation, no transparency, no inclusiveness and certainly no listening to the many critical voices who feel Minister Harney’s plans for the future do not promise the best hospital for generations of our sick children, many as yet unborn.

We are told that €1bn will have to be cut from the health budget in 2011. She could start immediately by calling a halt to the Mater site madness and build the hospital on a greenfield site at the M50 and save her department at least €300m. How can Finance Minister Brian Lenihan continue to condone this astounding waste? If he does not put an end to this insanity, then hopefully the IMF will do so.

Roisín Knox

Willowbank Park

Rathfarnham

Dublin 14