The Government has rejected claims by Labour that it is waiting until the Dáil rises for the summer recess before publishing its plans to reform the health service.
However a Government spokeswoman said yesterday that the Dáil would be recalled if the papers were not published before the break.
The Labour Party health spokeswoman, Ms Liz McManus, claimed the debate on three consultancy reports into the health service was "on hold" to enable the Government publish its reform plans during the recess.
With proposals expected to be brought before Cabinet on June 17th or 24th, the Minister for Health, Mr Martin, denied the charge and said that the Government was committed to "early and decisive action".
"The reports and the framework for reform will be published before the Dáil recess on July 3rd," he said.
The proposals to Cabinet will follow months of internal debate in Government, with Mr Martin and Mr McCreevy openly at odds over their priorities for reform. There had been indications from Government sources that a decision would be made in early May.
The plan will embrace a report on health funding by Prof Niamh Brennan, of UCD ,and another on structures by Prospectus management consultants. Another on manpower in the service is not yet finalised.
Ms McManus condemned the Government's record on health, claiming that versions of all three reports had been given to journalists but not politicians.
"As a consequence there has been considerable debate in the media on the issues, yet there is no forum for elected public representatives to engage in such debate," she said.
With the final Brennan report dated January 2003 and Prospectus document dated March 2003, she said Mr Martin and Mr McCreevy could not agree a position. While a joint Cabinet memorandum by the two Ministers is said to be 95 per cent complete, discussions between Mr Martin and Mr McCreevy and their officials are continuing.
Ms McManus said patients were dying due to cutbacks and dithering by Ministers.
However, Mr Martin said in a statement yesterday that waiting- lists for cardiac surgery and gynaecological services were down and waiting times were being significantly reduced.Despite continuing reports of bed closures by hospitals, he said the quality of healthcare was "far better" than ever before.
Ms McManus also accused the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, and the Tanáiste, Ms Harney, of colluding to mislead the electorate by publishing the Government health strategy in November 2001.
Separately, Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children in Crumlin, Dublin, said claims by Fine Gael leader Mr Enda Kenny - that children suffering from cancer had been turned away - were untrue.