Cancer files tampered with, FG claims

FINE GAEL leader Enda Kenny claimed that the file on Portlaoise hospital breast cancer service appeared to have been tampered with after a letter in 2002, warning of the situation at the hospital, emerged when its existence had previously been denied.

But Tánaiste Brian Cowen said in the Dáil that he did not "accept the precipitate and serious conclusion drawn by Deputy Kenny.

"Such conclusions should not be bandied about in the House, particularly when one considers that discussions are ongoing," Mr Cowen said.

Referring to a letter written by Peter Naughton to the Tánaiste's successor in the department, former minister for health Micheál Martin, in 2002, Mr Kenny said " The Irish Times sought evidence of such a letter under the Freedom of Information Act but it did not emerge.

"Deputy (James) Reilly asked the Minister for Health and Children in the Dáil if there was such a letter but she said not according to her information.

"By confirming that such a letter existed and by making it public, it now appears that somebody tampered with this file which is evidence of an attempt to cover up a request for information," to the Minister for Health.

He said it was "too important for nobody to be blamed, for it to be considered a systems failure and for the buck to be passed again".

© 2008 The Irish Times

This article appears in the print edition of the Irish Times