A Waterford city councillor has resigned from Fianna Fáil in protest at the Government's failure to give a commitment on the provision of a radiotherapy unit for the south-east.
Cllr Mary Roche, the only female member of the council, made the surprise announcement at the weekend.
The resignation follows the picketing of Leinster House by Waterford officials last week after the Minister for Health, Mr Martin, confirmed that a review group would not recommend the provision of the unit.
The Minister stressed his commitment to cancer-care services but said that units in Dublin, Cork and Galway were to be the focus of the Government's long-term radiotherapy programme.
Cllr Roche was "deeply disappointed" with the Minister's statement. More than 3,000 patients were diagnosed with cancer in the south-east each year, and those who required radiotherapy treatment had to travel to Dublin.
"The only point in being in a political party is to have access to those in the party involved in decision-making and in this case, it hasn't worked out like that ... I don't accept the Minister for Health's decision and I don't accept the way it was made."
She said she would remain on Waterford City Council as an Independent councillor.