Minister for Health Mr Míchael Martin has apologised for statements he made on supplies of iodine tablets on yesterday's Morning Irelandprogramme.
Mr Martin said on the RTÉ radio show yesterday there were sufficient supplies of the tablets for everyone in the State. But it has since emerged much of the stock has been destroyed or is out of date.
Mr Martin admitted the information he gave yesterday was incorrect but said: "I was given that information in good faith".
Fine Gael spokesman Mr Charles Flanagan today accused Minister Martin of incompetence over the revelations that iodine supplies are insufficient.
"This whole sorry episode has become a total shambles over a range of Government departments . . . the Taoiseach must make a clear and unequivocal statement setting out whether he has continued confidence in his Minister's preparation of an National Emergency Plan for Nuclear Accidents," he said.
An investigation published in today's The Irish Timesshows iodine tablets distributed nationwide two years after the Chernobyl disaster are now past their use-by date.
Some health boards have destroyed their stock; others have kept them but say they are unusable. But others told the The Irish Timesthe tablets could still be used.