The Tánaiste and Minister for Health Mary Harney has dismissed claims that her mother was rushed into surgery ahead of two other emergency cases at Tallaght Hospital.
A Department of Health spokesperson denies allegations published in today's Ireland on Sunday that the Health Minister had anything to do with Mrs Sarah Harney jumping the queue for hip surgery.
A Spokesperson for the Patients Together lobby group, Janette Byrne, said today that it does not believe the Tánaiste was involved but says the case highlights the fact that certain patients are receiving preferential treatment.