Laois/Offaly Fianna Fail TD, Mr John Moloney, has withdrawn a threat to resign his seat because of a dispute over health services. Mr Moloney had come under pressure locally after backing a plan to centralise Midlands Health Board cancer care in Tullamore Hospital at the expense of Portlaoise General Hospital.
Yesterday the Department of Health told him the centralisation plan was based on independent medical opinion, and not linked to the Minister for Health, Mr Cowen, whose home town is Tullamore.
Mr Moloney said £24m has been promised for paediatric, psychiatric and accident and emergency services to upgrade Portlaoise General Hospital.