Lenihan upbeat despite diagnosis

Finance Minister Brian Lenihan today confirmed he would undergo treatment to remove cancerous tissue in his pancreas.

While preparing to begin a course of chemotherapy and radiotherapy this week, he has also vowed to remain in office and implement the Government’s economic recovery plan.

Disclosing details for the first time of his illness, Mr Lenihan said a blockage at the entrance to his pancreas was identified during the week before Christmas.

Although his condition is serious, the diagnosis appears not to be as stark as was initially feared.

“A stent was inserted and the pancreas is now functioning normally,” he said.

“Cancerous tissue has been identified in the material that has caused the blockage. My medical advice is that chemotherapeutic and radiotherapeutic treatment are required.”

Mr Lenihan said his doctors have advised he is fit to continue in his role as Finance Minister during the worst economic crash in recent memory.

“If that position were to change in the course of my treatment, I would be the first to recognise it,” he added.

“At all times, I will act in the best interests of the country and in accordance with any medical advice received.”

The 50-year-old father-of-two said he may have to undergo surgery in future, but it wasn't possible at this stage because the growth was very close to an important blood vessel.

He would not be drawn on whether the condition could be described as pancreatic cancer.

“The cancerous material is there, and it requires to be contained and if possible eliminated,” he said.

“It is a growth and it is a growth I intend to defeat or it will defeat me.”

Undergoing up to six months of treatment would at times be debilitating, but his mental capacity to do his job would not be impaired, he said.

While he would not accept invitations for speaking engagements in the next few months, he promised to press on with the duties of his office, his Cabinet and parliamentary roles.

Insisting he would not become a part-time minister, Mr Lenihan said he would give up the “gallivanting around” associated with political life to focus on his key duties.

Mr Lenihan said he spoke last night with Fine Gael’s deputy leader and finance spokesman Richard Bruton to ensure the goodwill of political foes did not impact on their holding him to account.

“I made it very clear to him that I would expect the Opposition spokespersons to maintain the vigour of their criticism of Government policy because it is very important we have vigorous debate about the economic crisis,” he said.

“The last thing I would want would be for them or other participants in those debates to feel inhibited because of my medical condition.”

Former minister Mary O'Rourke, an aunt of the Finance Minister, said Mr Lenihan has spoken at length with the Taoiseach prior to today's statement and was feeling positive.

"He had a long talk with the Taoiseach" she said.

"They - the two of them - had decided he would stay on and do his… constitutional duty, but that he would cut back on going around the country." Ms O'Rourke said the Minister's treatment would begin on Thursday.

Today's statement is the first public confirmation of Mr Lenihan's condition since the news was broken on St Stephens' Day, a move which had ignited a debate on media intrusion into the private lives of political figures.

Mr Lenihan said there were issues of media intrusion that needed addressing over the decision of TV3 to report that he had pancreatic cancer the day after Christmas.

While accepting there was a public interest in the health of the Finance Minister, particularly during the current crisis, he was adamant the broadcaster should have held off until he was ready to make a public statement.

“I think the public interest would equally have been served by leaving it until now,” he said.

“I would have liked a slightly longer opportunity to explain matters to my wider family and friends.”

The report sparked dozens of complaints to the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland while Social Affairs Minister Mary Hanafin said Cabinet colleagues were appalled by the way it was disclosed.

Reiterating his claim that Ireland was now turning a corner away from the recession, Mr Lenihan suggested the year ahead would not be as economically difficult as the public finances and banking sector were stabilised.

But uncertainty remains over the future of some banks, while exchequer returns to be published tomorrow will lay bare the size of the financial black hole still facing the country.

Figures will show the tax take has plunged to €32.5bn, far below current Government spending, at around €56bn.

Last month, the Finance Minister delivered one of the most feared Budgets in the history of the state, slashing €4bn from public spending.

The enormity of the crisis prompted Taoiseach Brian Cowen last month to declare 2009 – his first full year as premier – as the worst in his political career.