Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)

I will move the adjournment in a moment, and I beg the indulgence of the House to answer a political allegation that the Minister threw across the House to muddy the waters — she is a past master at doing so. In 2002, Portlaoise hospital was designated a centre of excellence for symptomatic breast disease by then Minister for Health, Deputy Micheál Martin. That designation was approved by the Minister, Deputy Martin, and by the Government of which the Minister, Deputy Harney, was a member. However, the hospital and the issue was starved from 2002 to 2005, and departmental records show that to be the case.

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