Ahern assures towns over SARS fears

HOST towns for the Special Olympics were yesterday urged by Taoiseach Bertie Ahern to maintain a sense of perspective over the SARS scare.

He acknowledged public concerns about a health threat but advised Irish communities not to make any snap decisions.

"In my view," said the Taoiseach, "it's too early for any host town to decide that adequate arrangements to provide the kind of reassurance required on this issue cannot be put in place."

In a statement, he said: "The Government is very much aware of the threat SARS poses, not only to public health, which is of course the paramount concern, but also to Ireland's economic interests, particularly to the Irish tourism."

The event is due to attract 7,000 athletes from 166 different countries and the delegations will start arriving from early next month.

About 500 people are due to travel from SARS-affected areas in China, Hong Kong and Canada to towns such as Bray, Arklow, Clonmel and Enniscorthy.

Earlier this week, Clonmel town councillors voted not to accept athletes from Hong Kong.

In a message aimed at host towns, Mr Ahern said the Department of Health and the Special Olympics Committee were working with the World Health Organisation to ensure appropriate arrangements are put in place.

The Special Olympics' organisers said the committee also shared public concerns, but its chief executive Mary Davies said the committee did not want any athletes singled out.

"Everybody in the country has a concern but there is no reason why Special Olympics should be highlighted over and above any other person or the thousands of people or students that can potentially come into the country between now and June 16 when the games start," she said.

Ms Davies said the health of athletes was being very carefully monitored.

Mr Ahern, meanwhile, said the Government fully appreciated the need to have in place appropriate arrangements consistent with the levels of risk facing the country to minimise the risk of a SARS outbreak.

He said Health Minister Micheál Martin and senior officials from several departments were continuing to closely monitor the situation.

Meanwhile, Fine Gael's health spokesperson Olivia Mitchell has tabled a private members' motion next week to press Mr Martin into addressing the crisis.

She is demanding the public health doctors dispute be resolved to ensure a clear and effective public health communications strategy to deal with threats such as SARS and force the minister to publish his proposals on reform of the health service.

"Minister Martin has political responsibility for the health service and must be held accountable in the Dáil for his incompetent stewardship during the SARS threat," she said.