07/03/2008

Gilmore Calls For Cabinet Dismissals

The leader of the Irish Labour Party leader has called for the dismissal of either Micheál Martin or Mary Harney from the cabinet.

Eamon Gilmore made the call following Opposition claims of an attempted cover-up over when the health authorities became aware of concerns about breast cancer services at Portlaoise hospital.

On Thursday, the Oireachtas Health Committee was told that a letter was sent in 2002 to the then Minister for Health, Mr Martin, from surgeon Peter Naughton expressing serious concern about the cancer services at the Midland Regional Hospital.

On RTÉ Radio's Morning Ireland programme, Mr Gilmore said it was time for "political accountability".

In response on Morning Ireland, Mr Martin said the assertion was outrageous, adding that nothing had been hidden.

Mr Martin said resources had been allocated to Portlaoise, but internal wrangling and medical politics served to frustrate the development of a centre of excellence.

The current Minister for Health, Ms Harney, has apologised to the nine women who were misdiagnosed at the Midland Regional Hospital and who were later found to have cancer. She insisted that "serious weaknesses" in the breast cancer services would not occur again.

(NS/JM)


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