Fine Gael have called for an international review of the decision to locate a new children's hospital at the Mater in central Dublin.
The decision was announced in June and has been subject to controversy ever since.
Fine Gael MEP for Dublin South Gay Mitchell questioned the selection of a site with limited space and transport links and suggested the 20 hectares available at St James's Hospital and its Luas stop made it more suitable.
Mr Mitchell was commenting after the latest spat emerged today in the controversial selection of the Mater as a new "super-hospital" to incorporate the work of Our Lady's in Crumlin and Temple Street Hospital.
The Irish Timesthis morning reports that the chief executive of the Health Service Executive (HSE), Prof Brendan Drumm, had strongly criticised the chairman of the Mater's Board of Governors, Mr Des Lamont.
Last Friday, Mr Lamont thanked Taoiseach Bertie Ahern for "honouring a commitment" to locate a children's hospital at the Mater. He also expressed the hope that the new hospital would be opened by 2011 - the Mater's 150th anniversary.
Prof Drumm issued a furious response in a letter circulated to other Dublin hospitals that had tendered for the prestigious €500 million project.
The letter said: "To advance a target date in such a definitive manner prior to the establishment of the governing board is disingenuous, presumptuous and unhelpful in the extreme."
Prof Drumm said it was "an affront to the integrity" of the taskforce set up by the Department of Health and the HSE, which recommended the Mater over St James's, Tallaght, Beaumont, St Vincents and Blachardstown. Our Lady's supported nearby St James's application. He stressed the selection process was impartial
Mr Lamont sent Prof Drumm a letter saying his comments were taken out of context.
But Mr Mitchell said Prof Drumm's comments were "intemperate" and "alarming".
"The way this decision was made and the manner of its announcement is extraordinary. There was no paediatrician involved in the decision process and it was leaked out on the day the Dáil was in special session to deal with legislation on sexual offences against children, an issue with which the media was also consumed.
"The new children's hospital should be located where it can best serve the children of Ireland. Politics does not have a part to play in the decision," Mr Mitchell said.