Minister forced into tablet climbdown

The Minister for Health has admitted that the country’s health boards do not have a supply of iodine tablets, which are vital in the event of a nuclear disaster.

In an embarrassing admission, Minister Micheal Martin was forced to admit that stocks across the country have passed their expiry date.

This followed an earlier assurance that all health boards had stocks of iodine tablets, which are necessary for preventing thyroid cancer in children exposed to radioactive fallout.

The minister’s admission comes in the wake of a broadcast debacle by junior minister, Joe Jacob who was speaking about a national emergency plan to cope with a nuclear threat.

Mr Jacob’s lack of clarity and his reluctance to answer specific questions provoked a national outcry from a public concerned that no national plan was place.

The Taoiseach Bertie Ahern had to defend both his ministers, but said while new stocks of iodine tablets will be ordered, he does not think they will be needed.