Sinn Féin claims Government 'deliberately made a choice' to underfund cancer services

The Tánaiste Micheál Martin replied that 'Our mortality rate for all cancers dropped by 11% over the past 10 years'

Sinn Féin’s Pearse Doherty told the Dáil: 'And a plan without action is not a plan. It is just words and words are no comfort to somebody languishing on a waiting list for a cancer test getting more worried day by day.'

The Government has been accused of “deliberately underfunding” cancer services in Ireland which has had “disastrous consequences for patient safety”.

During Leaders’ Questions in the Dáil on Thursday, Sinn Féin’s Pearse Doherty told Tánaiste Micheál Martin that cancer services need multi-annual funding and proper workforce planning that has been absent.