The Government came under renewed attack for its performance in the health services. The Labour spokeswoman on health, Ms Liz McManus, said the most disturbing aspect of the recent Cabinet meeting in Ballymascanlon, Co Louth, was that it became clear the Government had no intention of reforming the health service.

"It never intended to and it isn't going to now. It has run out of time. To be effective, what is needed is not just a new start in healthcare but a new government to deliver on that new start."

Ms McManus was opening a debate on a Labour private member's motion critical of the Government's performance on the health services .

The Minister for Health, Mr Martin, rounded on the Opposition, claiming that Labour and Fine Gael "are desperately hoping that a continuous stream of attacks on health will help to reverse their ever more abject failure to gain the interest, much less the support, of the public".

He said there was objective evidence that the Government's programme of sustained expansion in health funding was making a difference.

The Labour spokesman on enterprise, trade and employment, Mr Pat Rabbitte, said: "If Bertie Ahern wants to leave behind a monument as his political testament, why not invest £1,000 million in a reform programme for the health services? That would truly be a monument that would improve the life chances and quality of life of all our citizens."

Debate on the motion resumes tonight.