Cabinet to discuss response to Ebola crisis tomorrow

The Government has moved to allay concern over the growing threat posed by the outbreak of Ebola disease.

The crisis, which this week saw the first Ebola death in the US and the first transmission of the disease within Europe, will be discussed at tomorrow's Cabinet meeting, according to Minister for Health Leo Varadkar.

All Ministers are due to update Cabinet on their own specific areas of responsibility, he said, although the lead departments are the Departments of Health and Foreign Affairs.

The HSE has said Ireland is prepared for any outbreak of the disease but there is evidence of unease among some doctors. One prominent GP, Ruairi Hanley, today criticised the protocols applying to doctors dealing with patients showing symptoms and said a freephone service should be set up to accommodate queries from patients with concerns.

Mr Varadkar said his department had monitored the situation very closely throughout the summer and continued to do so. A cross-departmental group led by the Department of Health is ensuring the State's infrastructure is ready to deal with any emerging situation relevant to Ireland.

The group is operating under the remit of the Government task-force on emergency planning, which met last night to discuss the current situation. Mr Varadkar attended along with Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney and Minister of State Sean Sherlock.

“The meeting updated Ministers on developments to date and to ensure that the State is focused and prepared to develop a response capacity for Irish citizens, should the need arise,” a statement said.

Ireland is also represented on the EU Health Security Committee, which was set up to co-ordinate health threats at EU level by officials from the Department of Health. The committee is chaired by the European Commission, which convened the latest teleconference this morning.

“ A cross-departmental group led by the Department of Health has been monitoring evolving events on Ebola and ensuring the State’s infrastructure is ready to deal with any emerging situation relevant to Ireland.

“ All Ministers including Minister Varadkar will update the Cabinet as to their own specific areas of responsibility on Friday.

“ The lead departments in this regard are the Departments of Health and Foreign Affairs. The department has monitored the situation very closely throughout the summer and continues to do so. It has been in weekly contact with other bodies at both Irish and international level throughout the summer.

“ This cross-departmental group is operating under the remit of the Government Task Force on Emergency planning, which met last night to discuss the current situation.”

Ireland is also represented on the EU Health Security Committee, which was set up to co-ordinate health threats at EU level, by officials from the Department of Health. The committee is chaired by the European Commission, which convened the latest teleconference this morning.

Within Ireland, more than 20 meetings involving the Department of Health and the HSE have been held this year, with other meetings taking place across Government. These meetings generally include representatives from the Department of the Taoiseach, the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Department of Defence, the Department of Transport, Tourism & Sport, and relevant agencies including the Defence Forces, and the DAA.

There is also regular contact at EU level between Ireland, the European Commission and other member states with regular meetings of the Health Security Committee.