A special Dáil debate is to be held next week on the reports into cancer misdiagnosis in Portlaoise which were published this week.
Several hours are likely to be devoted to the debate on Wednesday, after which there will be a vote on a motion put forward by the Government and any amendments tabled by Opposition parties.
The debate will give the Opposition a chance to raise questions about a 2002 letter to then Health Minister Micheál Martin warning of problems in the cancer services in Portlaoise.
Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny had requested in the Dáil yesterday that time should be set aside for a debate next week.
Mr Martin has insisted that he took appropriate action as health minister six years ago. He has accepted that the letter - which is missing - had been sent to him. However he would not say if he had read it.
Fine Gael and Labour say the minister's explanation is not adequate because he did not ensure that the problems at Portlaoise were resolved.
Yesterday, it was revealed that consultant surgeon Peter Naughton at the Midlands Regional Hospital in Portlaoise wrote to Mr Martin in 2002.
The letter warned that cancer services there were seriously inadequate, and that a radiologist, histopathologist and a surgeon had not been appointed to the cancer unit as promised.
Labour leader Eamon Gilmore has called for the dismissal of either Mr Martin or Health Minister Mary Harney from the Cabinet.
On RTÉ Radio's Morning Ireland, Mr Gilmore claimed it was time for political accountability.
On the same programme, Mr Martin said the assertion was outrageous and insisted nothing had been hidden.
He said resources had been allocated to Portlaoise, but internal wrangling and medical politics served to frustrate the development of a centre of excellence.
