Tanaiste and Minister for Health Mary Harney confirmed today she has held a meeting with a major property developer over the construction of a new hospital at Blanchardstown.
In a Dail response to a question from Labour Party finance spokeswoman Joan Burton, Ms Harney said she had a recent meeting with Bernard McNamara of building contractors Michael McNamara and Company.
She said Mr McNamara had outlined his proposals for a new private hospital and step-down facilities at Connolly Memorial Hospital. The meeting was also attended by Dublin tax consultant Noel Corcoran and Ms Harney's advisor, Oliver O'Connor.
Ms Harney announced in July she intends to provide 1,000 more beds by allowing privately-built hospitals to be sited on public lands.
Michael McNamara & Co was involved in the €70 million refurbishment and new accident and emergency unit at Connolly Memorial Hospital. It was opened in January this year.
The company also recently completed a €140 million redevelopment at St Vincent's Hospital, Dublin and built a private hospital in Galway.
It was also the construction company behind the recent €32 million upgrading of St James's Hospital in Dublin.
Ms Burton attacked the Minister for spending time meeting developers rather than concentrating on the needs of public patients.
"When the new A&E unit opened at last after many years of delay, hopes were high in Dublin 15 that this would be followed by the construction of Phase Two," she said.
"However, it seems that the only planning that the Minister has been doing for Connolly Hospital has been private selective meetings with consultants and developers, whose primary interest is the major tax breaks that private hospital development now offers."