Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has said the health system did not live up to its standards in the case of Susie Long, who died last Friday.
Mr Ahern said she obviously felt very let down by the system.
He told the Dáil her case was handled very regrettably.
Today the Taoiseach extended his sympathies to the Long family.
Susie Long went public on Joe Duffy's Liveline programme on 9 January saying she was going to die because of long waiting lists.
After being diagnosed with terminal bowel cancer, she discussed the delay she experienced in getting the proper treatment.
Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny raised Mrs Long's case asking Mr Ahern how long people would have to wait for the promised world class health service.
Mr Kenny had said the Government was in a frenzy of closing services and there was a disconnect between what the Government was saying about a world class health service and what people were saying about the health services.
