Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)

No, I do not think he was involved in an appeal to An Bord Pleanála. He may have had issues concerning location. At around 1.30 p.m. Deputy O'Sullivan said her party wants to keep the VHI - which provides private health insurance and guarantees people preferential access to public hospitals and super-dooper hospitals - in State ownership, yet when we try to reduce the level of private activity in public hospitals by building these facilities there are also objections.

The representatives of St. James's Hospital came to me recently to make the case for the co-located facility. I invite the Deputies opposite to meet them and hear the compelling case they made. They said it would make such sense for their public hospital to have this facility provided. Perhaps the Committee on Health and Children would consider inviting them in. There is no other plan. There is no public money available.

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