Waterford city councillors are to take the unprecedented step of picketing outside Leinster House over the refusal of the Minister for Health and Children, Mr Martin, to meet them to discuss the need for a radiotherapy unit at Waterford Regional Hospital.
The 15 council members, including four Fianna Fáil councillors, have agreed unanimously to take the action because their letter-writing campaign to the Government has been ineffective.
Since May, the council has sent letters to the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, and the Tánaiste, Ms Harney, as well as Mr Martin and the Minister for the Environment, Mr Cullen, but a decision on radiotherapy services has not been made.
A letter from Mr Martin's secretary said that due to his heavy diary schedule, the Minister would not be able to meet the Waterford delegation for some weeks or months. The campaign for a radiotherapy unit for the south-east was the main issue in the area before the general election in May.
At a meeting this week, many city councillors expressed anger that election promises on the provision of a unit were being reneged on. Former mayor Ald Hilary Quinlan (FG) was just one of the councillors who felt Fianna Fáil representatives were not making a stand on the issue.
"Prior to the election, Minister Cullen, as well as others in the Government parties, told us they would provide a radiotherapy unit. They should have published the findings of an expert review group 12 months ago. They didn't publish the report because it impacted negatively on the south east and we will not be given the unit if its findings are followed."
Ald Tom Cunningham (FG) said the local radio station and local newspapers would be able to trawl their archives and come up with evidence that Mr Cullen had promised to deliver a radiotherapy unit for the south east within three years.
Defending the Minister's position, Cllr Sean Dower (FF) said: "I was speaking to Minister Cullen yesterday and he stressed that it is his priority to have a radiotherapy unit located in the south-east."
Worker's Party councillor Mr Davy Walsh said: "We have gone down the conventional route, written letter after letter. We demand that this council be taken seriously and will now move out and lead a delegation to picket the Minister."