Cancer claim unfair: Martin

OPPOSITION claims that more money is being spent combating disease among farm animals than tackling breast cancer is "rubbish, unfair and selective", Health Minister Micheal Martin said yesterday.

"We've spent over 400 million on cancer services, on top of what we were spending," he said yesterday in response to criticism by Labour's Health spokesperson, Liz MacManus.

"They (opposition parties) selected out the BreastCheck issue and it is somewhat disingenuous. Comparing it with the animal disease eradication programme, which is important in itself, is just not fair," the minister said as he launched a MRI scanner and breast care facility in Waterford.