The Tanaiste and Minister for Health Mary Harney has been asked to explain how a man became infected with the human form of Mad Cow Disease despite strict controls in Ireland.
The 24-year-old man, who is seriously ill in a Dublin hospital with only months to live, was the first person in the Republic diagnosed with vCJD last November.
Labour deputy Eamon Gilmore, who was approached by the man's family, today asked Ms Harney in the Dáil how the victim contracted the fatal brain disease despite apparently strict controls in place in Ireland since 1996.
Mr Gilmore called on Ms Harney to outline measures put in place in Ireland to prevent vCJD, when these were put in place and how they are monitored. He said: "This particular family want to know how their son came to develop vCJD in this country given that he had never travelled abroad.
"This raises the question as to the adequacy of the safeguards which are in place to prevent vCJD arising in this country. He also said the Government should set up a compensation fund for vCJD victims and their families, like in the UK.
Speaking on behalf of Ms Harney, Minister of State Brian Lenihan said that adequate controls are in place and no additional measures are required in light of the recent occurrence.
He said the Tanaiste is continuously briefed by the National vCJD Advisory Group and the National Disease Surveillance Centre on the issue.
He added that there were no public health issues in this case as the person involved never donated or received blood products or underwent invasive surgery.
"The initial conclusion is that the situation presented by the occurrence of this case does not require that any other measures, apart from those already in place, need to be taken," he said.
Mr Lenihan sympathised with the victim and his family and appealed for their privacy to be respected. Mr Gilmore added: "I have, on a confidential basis supplied the Tanaiste with the details of the case which I am raising here, so that she may be able to fully respond.
"I hope that she will be able to respond in a positive and sympathetic way which this case requires." By the end of 2002, 129 people had developed the disease in the UK but because the incubation period is extremely long, there are fears that there could be a substantial increase in the number of cases in the future.