There is no Heneghan or constituency deal, Taoiseach says

By Gráinne Ní Aodha, PA

There is no “Heneghan deal” or constituency-specific deal with independents, Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said.

Mr Martin was responding to a press release issued by Dublin Bay North TD Barry Heneghan, who welcomed €240 million of investment in Beaumont Hospital and St Joseph’s Hospital Raheny.

The press release quoted former minister for disabilities and an adviser to Mr Heneghan, Finian McGrath, as saying: “It is great to see the ‘HENEGHAN DEAL’ coming to fruition, long may it continue.”

The Taoiseach has denied that constituency-specific promises have been made to independents supporting the Fine Gael-Fianna Fail government.

Members of the Regional Independent Group and Kerry brothers Michael and Danny Healy-Rae said their constituents will see the benefits of their support for the Government.

Asked about Mr McGrath’s reference to a Heneghan deal, Mr Martin said the hospital funding was “not part of any deal”.

“There is no constituency deal, there is no Heneghan deal,” the Fianna Fail leader said.

“To be fair to Finian, he would have form in the odd bout of hyperbole, but the bottom line is are you seriously suggesting investment in the A&E in Beaumont Hospital constitutes some part of a deal?

“I mean, that is on track, you don’t get announcements like that in a capital programme unless there’s a lot of preparatory work in advance in respect of the design and so on like that.

“So that’s an investment that we welcomed, obviously, what we want to do.”

He added: “I think he has prioritised it, it’s not a part of any deal, but he has obviously prioritised it, I’d say he welcomes the fact that it’s now happening.

“But as I said, these investments have a significant journey as we all know.”