The former Taoiseach, Mr Charles Haughey, was admitted to hospital last Monday for treatment in his battle with prostate cancer.
He is expected to remain at the Bon Secours Hospital in Glasnevin for the duration of what a friend said was a 10-day course of scheduled treatment.
Speculation about Mr Haughey's condition intensified when he did not attend the funeral this week of Mrs Breda Mara, wife of his friend P.J. Mara. The funeral on Thursday was attended by Mr Haughey's wife, Maureen.
While associates of Mr Haughey confirmed last night that he had been unwell this week, they said he was not in any immediate danger. Although said to be in good spirits, he is thought to have weakened considerably in recent months.
A Bon Secours spokeswoman would not comment last night when asked about Mr Haughey's treatment.
Mr Haughey was diagnosed with prostate cancer in October 1995 and he has had various health problems since then. These surfaced most recently in April, when he was admitted to the Bon Secours for a number of days. Reports suggested that Mr Haughey had been taken to hospital after a serious progression of his prostate cancer. He was said to have received emergency surgery.
Mr Haughey was rushed to Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, with a "serious life-threatening cardiac condition" in March 2001. He spent 10 days in the hospital shortly after completing evidence to the Moriarty tribunal. He had given evidence in private to the tribunal after it received a medical report which stated that he was terminally ill with prostate cancer.
Ms Catherine Butler, a former adviser to Mr Haughey, said two years ago that he had grown frail, suffered poor health and developed memory problems as a result of stress.
Ms Butler, who worked for Mr Haughey from 1987 to 1992, suggested that the stress was caused by having to give evidence before the tribunal.
