Calls for a fresh review of the decision to locate the new national children's hospital on the campus of Dublin's Mater hospital were rejected yesterday by Minister for Health Mary Harney.
She said no matter which site had been chosen for the new hospital, some people would not be happy.
She insisted that the new hospital, into which the three existing children's hospitals in Dublin - at Temple Street, Crumlin and Tallaght are to be merged - will be built at the Mater and she hopes it can still be built by 2011. She believed it was time now to get on with the project rather than talk about it for several more years.
Furthermore, she rejected suggestions by Tallaght hospital, which has threatened not to co-operate with the move to the Mater, that the new hospital be located across two sites with a single governance structure.
"I don't agree with the two-site strategy," Ms Harney said, adding that she wouldn't want to see specialists spread across two sites.
"I passionately believe we need a single tertiary hospital for sick children in Ireland."
A review of paediatric services by McKinsey consultants had said the Republic, with its population, could only justify having one major children's hospital and it recommended it be co-located with an adult hospital, Ms Harney said, adding there are also plans to co-locate a maternity hospital with the new hospital.
Last week the board of Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children in Crumlin decided not to co-operate with the move to the Mater, saying the site was too small and had access and car parking problems. Ms Harney said she hoped the board would "reflect" again on the decision they had taken and engage in dialogue as the Catholic Archbishop of Dublin Dr Diarmuid Martin, who is also chairman of the Crumlin hospital board, had suggested.
Dr Martin was not present at the Crumlin board meeting when the decision was taken. However, another meeting of the board takes place this day week, when the issue will be discussed again.
A spokesman for Dr Martin could not say if he will attend this meeting.