The Government has not commissioned another independent report on potential locations for the national children’s hospital, nor has any Minister, the Taoiseach has said.
Enda Kenny repeated in the Dáil this morning that a final decision on the location of the long-awaited hospital would be made within a fortnight.
Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin had asked about reports that the advice of former Dublin City Council manager John Fitzgerald had been sought on the issue.
Mr Kenny said any such contact was informal and within the framework of the Dolphin report, the official report on the competing bids for the site of the proposed hospital.
When it was put to the Taoiseach about reports last night suggesting Mr Fitzgerald had been approached for advice, Mr Kenny said he had no interest “in the speculation or the rumour or the innuendo that goes on”.
He added: “Did the Government commission another independent report in regard to the children’s hospital? The answer to that question is No.
“Did any Minister commission other independent reports into any of these locations? The answer to that question is No.”
He added that it was right and proper that the Department of Health, with the Minister for Health James Reilly, should ask questions about aspects of the Dolphin report. “That was in an informal way, as Mr Fitzgerald himself has commented.”
He told Mr Martin not to be “running away with the illusion” that Dr Reilly “or any other Minister or the Government went off and commissioned an individual or individuals to do other independent assessments of the sites and locations that were mentioned in the Dolphin report."
The Dolphin report was commissioned by Dr Reilly in the wake of the refusal by An Bord Pleanála of the plans for the hospital on the grounds of the Mater. The report including its recommended location were delivered to the Minister during the summer and the Minister has been considering it since.
Renewed controversy over the hospital erupted following reports that Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore had sought independent expertise on the proposed locations, but the Minister for Foreign Affairs insisted there was nothing unusual in this to ensure he was fully informed and briefed.
Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams said the Government had been in office for 18 months but there had been a planning refusal and two reports on the hospital, but still no location. Mr Adams said this issue had been going on for more than 20 years and there was still no children’s hospital.
Mr Kenny reiterated that a decision would be made within the next fortnight and he insisted the Government would build that hospital.
