Leo: Hospital stays where it is

THE Taoiseach yesterday ruled out in the Dáil the possibility of the current controversy causing a change of site.

He declared, with frustration, that he had ‘listened to all of those people’ from the medical profession arguing for different locations than the St James’s site chosen by Government.

‘I respect all of them and hold them in the highest regard, whether it is Jimmy Sheehan, Chris Fitzpatrick, Fin Breathnach or Roisin Healy,’ said Mr Varadkar, adding that he worked for the latter ‘as her Senior House Officer when I worked in the emergency department in Crumlin.’

He was answering Mattie McGrath TD, who has championed the Connolly for Kids group, which favours co-location at the Blanchardstown site of James Connolly Memorial Hospital.

They had written to the Taoiseach and former taoiseach Enda Kenny, and handed in some 60,000 signatures expressing concern, ‘but they were not listened to’, Mr McGrath complained.

But the Taoiseach replied: ‘I respect them and have listened to, and met them.’ He added, however: ‘This decision was made in 2012 on foot of expert advice and endorsed by the Dáil, and the hospital project is well under way.’ The Fine Gael leader found unexpected support from Labour Party leader Brendan Howlin, who said that many years ago the Government had selected the Mater Hospital site, amid claims of political interference.

But An Bord Pleanála had refused planning permission for the Mater site.

An expert group had then been convened and had selected the St James’s site over Connolly Hospital in Blanchardstown, despite the M50 ring road being ‘nice and handy’ for the latter.

But Mr McGrath said: ‘I ask the Taoiseach to please listen to experts and parents who know, and to stall the ball and re-evaluate to see where we go.’