A Fianna Fáil Minister yesterday rejected strong criticism of the party at a rally in Waterford to demand a radiotherapy service for cancer patients in the south-east. Mr Martin Cullen, a Waterford TD and the Minister of State at the Office of Public Works, said the party was committed to establishing a radiotherapy unit in the region.
Fianna Fáil was singled out for criticism at the rally on Sunday, which was organised by the Waterford Council of Trade Unions and attended by nearly 1,000 people.
Ms Jane Bailey, a nurse at Waterford Regional Hospital and a member of the South East Cancer Foundation, a voluntary group campaigning for the unit, said Fianna Fáil candidates should stand down to make way for a political party that could deliver it to the south-east.
As a health professional, she wished to acknowledge her shame at the service provided to cancer patients. In contrast, the Taoiseach had acknowledged his shame recently over "a waterlogged football pitch," she said.
Ms Bailey read excerpts on the issue from the parties' manifestos. Fine Gael had said it would provide additional radiotherapy centres at Waterford and Limerick to expand and supplement the current service.
Labour had said: "In particular we support the development of regional cancer centres starting in Waterford".
The Progressive Democrats had said they would ensure in the next government that regional cancer centres were established so that patients did not have to travel hundreds of miles for ongoing radiotherapy. This was an "immediate priority". Unfortunately, Ms Bailey said, Fianna Fáil had made no specific commitment in its manifesto to cancer services or to radiotherapy in the south-east.
The Government has delayed making a decision on the matter until the completion of a report by an expert group set up in May 2000 to examine radiotherapy provision across the State. Mr Cullen said yesterday, however, that the Minister for Health, Mr Martin, had made a "quite specific" commitment on the issue in the Dáil in recent days.
In response to a question from the outgoing Fine Gael deputy, Mr Austin Deasy, the Minister had said: "We are committed to providing radiotherapy services in the regions."
As radiotherapy centres were already established in Dublin and Cork, and one was planned for Galway, Mr Martin's comment was a clear indication that other centres, including Waterford, would also be included, said Mr Cullen.
Radiotherapy is the single biggest election issue in Waterford. Despite the criticisms from the platform on Sunday, Mr Cullen said he was satisfied that he was getting his message across when speaking one-to-one with people at the doorsteps.
Cancer patients, including Dr Rosaleen Beattie, were among those who addressed the rally at John Roberts Square.
"I have it," she said, "and who's going to help me? Up and down to Dublin? I don't believe in politics because in this country we don't have politics, we have lack of politics. If we had politics in this country there wouldn't be so many people suffering."