Local FG TD and front-bench spokesman, Charlie Flanagan, said the HSE had been "less than honest" in its handling of the enquiry into Midlands Regional Hospital.

"Seven women who had previously been given the all-clear have now been told they have breast cancer, but still we don't have a comprehensive response from the HSE, " he said. "This is simply not good enough and I believe that an independent inquiry is now necessary."

Flanagan said that the issue had been "badly handled" by the HSE and that at best, they had "adopted a minimalist approach" to their enquiries into the misdiagnoses. "At worst, they have been less than honest, " he said. "That was certainly the case when I contacted them in September with concerns about mammogram reviews and was told that none of the women in my constituency need have any worries."

Flanagan criticised the Minister for Health, Mary Harney, for attempting to "scapegoat" Portlaoise Hospital, saying that "it is her government and her Department which has overseen the underfunding of cancer services at the hospital for years".

He also said there were a number of serious questions yet to be answered. "We don't know what the review covered . . . was it all mammograms at the hospital, or was it confined to the work of one consultant radiologist?" he said. "Has there been a review of x-rays and CT scans as well? And when will the HSE review finally be complete?"

A spokeswoman for the HSE said that anyone had a right to call for an independent review into the situation. "However, it's a political manner and it is for the minister to deal with, " she said.

When news of the misdiagnoses became public on Friday, the HSE apologised to the women involved. However, it is not yet clear how long the diagnosis was delayed in each case. The women's scans were among thousands that were reviewed by St Vincent's hospital in Dublin.

The review was ordered in August, following a decision to send a consultant radiologist at Portlaoise Hospital on administrative leave after concerns were raised about her reading of mammograms.

At the time, the HSE said that 3,000 mammograms and 2,500 ultrasounds on breast cancer patients dated back to November 2003 would be reviewed. This week, the health service said 2,900 mammogramshad been reviewed to date.