The Government is to ask athletes from SARS-affected countries not to attend next month's Special Olympics.
More than 260 delegates affected by the Department of Health decision are from China, Taiwan, Singapore, Hong Kong and the Philippines.
The countries will be asked not to attend if they remain on the World Health Organisation's list of areas with recent local transmission ten days prior to arriving in Ireland.
The Special Olympics Organising Committee said it was "surprised and disappointed" at the announcement.
"We question any decision that discriminates against Special Olympics athletes over and above any person or group of persons travelling to Ireland from these countries," the committee said in a statement.
"In light of this obvious inconsistency, the Games Organising Committee has asked the Chief Medical Officer Dr Jim Kiely and the expert group to revisit their recommendation to the Minister," the statement added.Making the announcement at a press briefing this evening the Minister for Health Mr Martin said he had taken the advice from the expert group set up after the outbreak of the virus adding it would be "wrong to ignore their advice and medical knowledge".
"I have considered the decision at length and discussed it with the Taoiseach who ahs informed the Tánaiste. They are in agreement with me that the best course of action is to follow through on the expert group's recommendation," the Minister said.
Mr Martin held out hope for the affected countries that they may be taken off the WHO list and allowed participate. Canada was removed from the list yesterday.
Some six thousands delegates are due to arrive in Ireland for the Games at the end of June.
The decision comes after Mr Martin met with senior officials from his Department for discussions this afternoon.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) said on Tuesday that it did not support the banning of Chinese athletes from travelling to Ireland for the games next month if proper "risk minimisation" measures, including quarantining and screening of athletes were put in place.
Bray, Arklow and Portlaoise were due to host three of the countries affected. Earlier this week, Hong Kong had announced that it would not be sending a team to the games. Councillors in Clonmel had voted not to accept the team.
The Labour Party's Ms Breeda Moynihan Cronin said the Government's decision was an act of "blatant political opportunism and discrimination".
"No other citizen from any of the affected countries is being asked not to travel to Ireland," she said.
"Business people, visitors, musicians, artists and anyone else who want to come to Ireland from the affected countries are all welcome. People with learning disabilities apparently are not".
"This is a shameful decision," she added.
Earlier today the Department of Health announced it was strongly advising people not to travel to China, Hong Kong and Taiwan because of the SARS alerts.