The Cabinet is today expected to discuss the siting of the State's new children's hospital on the campus of the Mater hospital today after the boards of two Dublin hospitals expressed serious concern at the decision.
The boards of St James's Hospital and Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children in Crumlin wrote to Minister for Health Mary Harney saying they cannot support the decision.
The decision to site the hospital at the Mater was made by the Health Service Executive (HSE), the
'No question of political interference in choice of site' says Minister for Health Ms Harney.
Department of Health and the OPW. It was endorsed by the board of the HSE last week. Dublin's three children's hospitals will be merged into the new hospital.
Some critics have voiced concerns the decision to site the new hospital at the Mater was a political one, given that it is in Taoiseach Bertie Ahern's constituency.
Ms Harney last night insisted there was no question of political interference. "This was a very clear, very open process," she insisted, adding that she would be "reluctant" to change the decision at today's Cabinet meeting.
St James's, in its letter to the Minister, described the process by which the taskforce came to its final decision as "fatally flawed".
In his letter, deputy chairman of the board of Crumlin hospital Frank Feely described the report of the taskforce on how it came to its decision as "extremely short on detail and transparency".
The Cabinet will also discuss measures taken in the wake of the Mr A crisis, which led to the coalition sustaining potentially significant political damage.
Ministers will be looking for assurances amid widespread concern about legislation rushed through the Oireachtas last week to plug the legal loophole that led to the striking down of a section of the 1935 Criminal Law (Amendment).
The Taoiseach yesterday announced to the Dáil as series of measures to aimed at enhancing child protection and improving communications between the Attorney General and the Government.
Opposition parties wanted an investigation into how the Government was blind-sided by the Supreme Court decision that led to the release of Mr A, who had been jailed for having sex with a 12-year-old girl. But Mr Ahern announced an internal inquiry that is expected completed by the end of the month.
Ministers will also consider major spending plans in scientific research. Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Mícheál Martin will present the Strategic Implementation Plan, which is expected to entail a budget of at least €3 billion over seven years.
The plan was due to be ratified at the start of the year but was delayed after one of the senior officials involved in its preparation moved departments in a scandal over his academic qualifications.