CLAIMS THAT a decision to site the new children’s hospital on the Mater hospital site was politically motivated have been rejected by the former head of the Health Service Executive (HSE) and by the Mater hospital.
Former HSE chief executive Brendan Drumm described the claims as “absolute rubbish”, and said his integrity had been attacked by suggestions that there was a “conspiracy” involving former taoiseach Bertie Ahern to site the new hospital there.
Des Lamont, former chairman of the Mater Hospital Holding Company, called on businessman Philip Lynch, the former chairman of the children’s hospital project, to withdraw his allegations or “face the legal consequences by way of a civil claim for defamation”.
Mr Lynch has claimed that the siting of the hospital was “a northside job”, and that Mr Ahern had promised the Sisters of Mercy they would get the hospital.
Mr Lamont said the Mater, which was founded by the Sisters of Mercy, was invited by the HSE to compete for the location of the national paediatric hospital on very specific terms.
“This process did not involve any lobbying, political or otherwise, and the full paper trail of our involvement in the process is available immediately for public inspection by the Oireachtas.”
Mr Drumm said on RTÉ's Morning Irelandhis integrity had been challenged on the issue.
“I certainly have done nothing and will do nothing that will end up with a second-best solution.The issues about Bertie Ahern and conspiracy theories are absolute rubbish. I’ve never met Bertie Ahern outside the Dáil anywhere in my life despite all the theories about my meeting him in public houses.
“He never asked me to do anything about the location of this children’s hospital. Neither did any other politician.”
Asked about possible funding from the European Investment Bank for a hospital at an alternative site on the M50, Mr Drumm said there was no indication of such funding.
He said if the outcome of the current debate was that the two current children’s hospitals – at Temple Street and in Crumlin – were simply “fixed up” to “keep everybody at an institutional level happy” it would be “an absolute disgrace”.
The bottom line, he said, was there was now an opportunity to do something that the country has “been crying out for”.
Dr Billy Bourke, a consultant paediatric at Crumlin Children’s Hospital, called on the Minister for Health, Dr James Reilly, to go ahead now with the project on the Mater site.
“This is the one chance we have to build a hospital for the sickest kids in the country. We need to take it. If we don’t, or if the project is stalled, it won’t happen.”
Dr Bourke said other locations, such as the proposal to site the hospital near the M50, would also give rise to objections and complications, leading to long delays in the project.
“The Minister should grab this opportunity now, to create an enormous legacy for his party and the Government.”
A planning application for the €650 million project is ready but is being delayed to give Dr Reilly time to decide whether the project should go ahead in its present form.