Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am sure the Taoiseach will agree that in health and infrastructure terms, the top priority for the Oireachtas must be meeting the needs of sick children and the provision of world class facilities for them. It is six months since An Bord Pleanála refused planning permission for the proposed national children's hospital. At the time an independent assessment, subsequently known as the Dolphin report, was requested by the Minister who informed us it would take one month to complete. When the Minister received the report on 8 June, he stated a decision would be taken within weeks. This was followed by a statement in July that the decision would be taken in October. Today, in a remarkable story, we learned about a further report for the Tánaiste, Deputy Eamon Gilmore, who is conducting his own independent research into the preferred location of the new national children's hospital. Labour Party officials are openly stating they are meeting the various bidders and essentially producing their own report and assessment on the issue. I put it to the Taoiseach that the behaviour of the Labour Party, in particular the Tánaiste, serves to isolate even further and undermine the role and position of the Minister for Health, Deputy James Reilly, in the Cabinet. The Tánaiste and his advisers and officials appear to be indicating that they do not trust the Minister to take the correct decision. Was the Taoiseach aware that the Tánaiste was pursuing this independent track in respect of the national children's hospital? Has the Government or any Minister commissioned an independent person to make a separate assessment of the sites contained and covered in the Dolphin report?

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