MINISTER FOR Health James Reilly is on a collision course with medical specialists over the expected selection of Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown as the location for the new national children’s hospital.

Dr Reilly said at the weekend he would bring the long-awaited decision on the hospital to the Taoiseach and Tánaiste in the next 10 days and a Cabinet decision was likely to follow shortly after.

Separately, the master of the Rotunda maternity hospital, Dr Sam Coulter-Smith, expressed concern last week that the decision on the project was becoming a political rather than a clinical one.

Blanchardstown is seen as the favourite to win not only because it can offer to build the project on a greenfield site with fewer planning difficulties but also because it is located in the constituency of Ministers Joan Burton and Leo Varadkar.

Another greenfield site, at Belcamp in north Dublin, which is in Dr Reilly’s constituency, has also featured strongly in speculation.

This is becoming somewhat tiresome.

Consultants warn Reilly over children’s hospital site (Paul Cullen, Irish Times)

(Sam Boal/Photocall Ireland)

 

Scenes from the closing weekend of Ballinasloe Horse Fair in Galway yesterday. According to traders and locals, numbers at the fair – one of the oldest of its kind in Europe – are down on previous years.

Pic 2. Trader Kieran Kelly from Co. Galway
Pic 3. Darren Smith from Co. Down
Pic 4. Trader Bill Beckett from Carrarea Co. Galway
Pic 7. Shane Mahon, Bridget Murray Ward, Theresa Ward, Amanda Ward and Lawrence McDonagh

(Laura Hutton/Photocall Ireland)

Donal Marah writes:

A fire in Bowes [corner of Fleet Street and D’Olier Street, Dublin]. Fire brigade entering through Ladbrokes.

Declan Bruton adds:

Just been evacuated from Bowes. It’s on fire. Huge response. Classic Irish reaction – we took our pints out (through choking smoke) and stood outside – then saw flames leap up from the basement. Crazy.

 

Investigation Underway Into Cause Of Dublin Pub Fire (RTE)

(Pic: Donal Marah)

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