Bio-terrorist threat - Ireland can’t presume to be immune

DESPITE the fact that EU governments have taken precautions to counter the effects of a possible bioterrorist attack, the Government here appears to take the blissfully optimistic view that Ireland is an unlikely target.

Consequently, nothing has been done to prepare an action plan to meet such a contingency, as documents obtained by the Irish Examiner under the Freedom of Information Act reveal.

In the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks in the US, it was questionable that this country had the capability to deal with an outbreak of a highly infectious disease, such as smallpox. In a response to meet a potential attack, the Government set up an expert committee to draw up a blueprint disaster action plan.