Ireland a weak link to disease, says deputy

Ireland is the weak link in protection against SARS, Fine Gael Deputy Olivia Mitchell claimed today.

Raising the Public Health Doctors' strike in the Dáil, the Fine Gael health spokeswoman said the Department of Health & Children has 'flown by the seat of its pants' in protecting public health.

"Ireland is now regarded as an international blackspot in terms of disease protection in the EU, and is a cause of considerable concern to our neighbours in Northern Ireland," claimed Deputy Mitchell.

"Infection does not recognise the Department's 5.00pm knocking-off time and it is no accident that Ireland has the highest European rates of meningitis and measles outbreaks," she added.