The medical expert in Britain who first raised concerns about the controversial three-in-one Measles, Mumps Rubella (MMR) vaccination administered to children has resigned from his post.
The news will came as further ammunition for Irish parents who believe the Government is unwilling to properly investigate a possible link for fear of being left open to huge compensation claims.
Parents groups claim Oireachtas report to which they gave evidence is a whitewash because their testimony was ignored when committee made its recommendations.
Dr Andrew Wakefield who claimed there could be a link between the vaccine and autism, left his job at the Royal Free and University College Medical School in London.
"Dr Wakefield's research was no longer in line with the department of medicine's research strategy and he left the university by mutual agreement," the organisation said in a statement.
A number of parents in Ireland have been campaigning for a nationwide screening programme to be introduced before the vaccine, which they say is responsible for an "autism epidemic" in Ireland, is administered.
"There is no frontline research to show vaccination is safe for susceptible children," Mr Colm McCaffrey of the Informed Immunisation Network said recently.
The parents are backed by the Green Party who claim a joint Oireachtas committee report called Vaccination and Childrenpublished earlier this year, that stated there was no link between the MMR injection and autsim and other disorders such Aspegers Syndrome, placed an unfair onus of proof on those who believe there is a connection.
Green Party TD Mr John Gormley said the Department of Health and the medical establishment are afraid of the possibility of huge compensation claims if a link between vaccines and illnesses was established.
additional reporting PA