MINISTER FOR Finance Brian Lenihan intends to make a public statement in early January following his diagnosis with cancer shortly before Christmas.
It is understood that Mr Lenihan discussed his medical condition with Taoiseach Brian Cowen after he was diagnosed with cancer at the Mater Hospital in Dublin.
The Department of Finance has declined to comment on reports about the Minister’s condition, but a spokesman said: “The Minister is well. He is enjoying the Christmas break with his family and he doesn’t intend talking to the media about anything until the new year.”
Mr Lenihan was admitted to hospital on December 16th complaining of discomfort that was initially linked to a suspected hernia problem, for which he was due to go into the Mater for treatment a few days later.
It is understood that Mr Lenihan was given his cancer diagnosis in the days after his admission. He missed the last day of the Dáil session and the vote on the legislation he was piloting through the House to cut the pay of public servants, one of the key elements of the Budget, which he announced on December 9th.
However, the Minister was able to attend a meeting in Government Buildings with Mr Cowen and senior Department of Finance officials early last week to finalise the appointment of the board of Nama.
He announced the Nama board on December 22nd and briefed financial correspondents about how the body, chaired by former Revenue Commissioners’ chairman Frank Daly, will work. The Minister made no reference to his illness at the briefing.
Long regarded as one of the most talented members of the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party, Mr Lenihan was only appointed to the Cabinet as minister for justice by former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern after the 2007 general election. Before that he served as minister of state for children.
After Brian Cowen became leader, Mr Lenihan (50) was appointed to the key post of finance in May last year. His arrival coincided with the most difficult economic crisis to confront the country since the 1930s, but his handling of the brief has earned him the reputation as the Government’s most able member.
Mr Lenihan has been a TD for Dublin West since 1996, when he was elected to the seat once held by his father, Brian, a senior Fianna Fáil figure from the 1960s to the 1990s.
His brother Conor is Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise and Employment, while his aunt Mary O’Rourke, a former minister, is TD for Longford-Westmeath.
Mr Lenihan is married to Circuit Court judge Patricia Ryan. They have two teenage children.
The Department of Finance statement was issued after TV3 reported details on St Stephen’s Day of Mr Lenihan’s illness.
Labour deputy leader Joan Burton, who is also a constituency colleague of the Minister’s, said yesterday: “I believe there was an appalling invasion of his privacy and the coverage has been inappropriate, particularly at Christmas time.”
Leo Varadkar of Fine Gael, who is also a Dublin West TD, said the Minister’s privacy must be fully respected. “This intrusion into Brian Lenihan’s private personal life was absolutely inappropriate. It was plain wrong.”