Minister for Finance Brian Cowen said the development of cancer care services had not been put on the long finger.
"It is not true to say that no decisions have been taken." Mr Cowen said there was a need to ascertain the way in which the provision of the BreastCheck service could be accelerated throughout the State.
"The Tánaiste has been addressing the matter and has discussed it with me. I leave it to her to decide the way in which she can bring further information to the House."
Labour leader Pat Rabbitte said the stock and trade response of the Minister and the Taoiseach was to reel off a number of statistics and refer to when the Opposition was last in office.
"Patients in pain and in need of morphine and, in some cases, travelling to Dublin from parts of Donegal or Waterford, are not interested in the Government playing games with regard to what was in place when I was last in office." He added it had been originally announced that BreastCheck was to go nationwide in 2002, then 2005.
"With regard to the southern region, the announcement has been made five times and yesterday the person responsible said that it cannot be put in place before 2008." Mr Rabbitte said he had listened to the people who had travelled to protest outside Leinster House and the services were not in place.
Mr Cowen said he could assure Mr Rabbitte and the House that he was not involved in bickering or playing games with the health issue.
"I did not suggest that I was unmoved by the prospect of 85 people at risk of dying, or that I was unmindful or disinterested in the fact or that the Government was callous. There is not a policy of drift, but a very proactive investment programme in place.
"It has not yet fully-developed the services we would like, but no one has a monopoly on sympathy or virtue with regard to the matter." Mr Cowen said the search for a solution to the problem of the provision of outreach services beyond the satellite services in Dublin, Cork and Galway had taken up the time and effort of those in the Department of Health, as well as the former and present Ministers.
"I am acutely mindful of the problems encountered by those who must travel to Dublin for specialist services. The Midland Health Board region is the only one in the country that does not have renal services.
"Everybody from my constituency and bordering constituencies has had to travel for such services. I am aware of the issues and progress is being made."
