Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)

I assure the Deputy there was no political interference — that is certain. The group that has been established to make progress with this initiative, which comprises officials from the Health Service Executive and the Department of Health and Children, will examine the submission made by Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children in Crumlin. I accept there is disappointment in certain quarters. When I met representatives of St. James's Hospital yesterday, they acknowledged during our very positive meeting that the decision has been made. It is clear they want to work with those in the new hospital. Many clinicians from St. James's Hospital are also working at Crumlin at present. There is a great deal of expertise, for example in the burns unit. Some specialist cancer services are based at St. James's Hospital. It is important that those who work in such areas co-operate with the new hospital, as they want to do. I do not want a situation of permanent review to develop because people are not happy with the decision that has been taken. If there are real issues which make it physically impossible for the hospital to be located in the intended location, for whatever reason, that will be a different matter. It is clear that it cannot happen in such circumstances. I have been advised that is not the case, however. The technical expertise available to me in the Department and to the HSE strongly suggests that is not the position. We will certainly give some consideration to the submission that has been made by Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children in Crumlin.

See this speech in context