Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

No, it is not. I do not question the bona fides of the people concerned and have no intention of getting into a conversation in which their bona fides would be questioned. Some were of the view that it should be built on the site of Connolly Hospital, while others, including a former Taoiseach, were of the view it should be built on the Mater hospital site. Some were of view that it should be built on a greenfield site, while others were of the view that it should be built on the site of St James's Hospital.

Politics is about making decisions and I stand over the decision to build it on the St. James's Hospital site, safe in the knowledge it is supported by the practising paediatricians in many of our children's hospitals. Many doctors support it. As the Senator and I know from many issues, different doctors have different views on matters and different builders have different views on matters. The Government has made a decision. None of the issues as to whether it should have been sited at Connolly hospital or St. James's Hospital relate to the cost overrun. If one looks at the briefing document the Secretary General has provided to the committee, the costs do not relate to costs incurred at the St. James's Hospital site that would not have been incurred at a different site. Truthfully, I do not believe it to be the case. I do not doubt the bona fides of people who would have liked it to be at an alternative site but we have had the debate not only about the Connolly hospital site but, previous to that, about the Mater hospital site, and all that time a hospital was not being built. A development at Connolly hospital will open this summer and will start serving children as part of Children's Health Ireland.