The Taoiseach will meet the international organisers of the Special Olympics tomorrow to discuss possible requirements for athletes in order to safeguard against the spread of SARS, write Joe Humphreys and Mark Brennock
It also emerged last night that the Department of Health is contacting embassies from participating countries to compile information on the prevalence of the disease in their countries.
The Taoiseach will discuss with the games' organisers whether any special quarantine requirements in relation to certain countries should be imposed.
A Government spokeswoman said last night that this information-gathering exercise was still ongoing, and it is not known whether any final decisions will be made tomorrow.
Yesterday the Minister for Health, Mr Martin, briefed the Cabinet on SARS and on the situation regarding the Special Olympics.
Officials from the World Health Organisation are also due in Ireland this week to advise the Department on how it should proceed in relation to the Olympics.
Meanwhile, public health doctors and their employers are to hold exploratory talks this morning aimed at bringing the two-week old medics' strike to an end.
The move comes amid fresh concern over the threat of the SARS virus and its implication for host towns in the Special Olympics.
Ms Mary Davis, chief executive of the games' organising committee, confirmed yesterday that it had requested all athletes travelling from SARS-affected areas to be quarantined in their home countries for 10 to 14 days before the opening ceremony on June 21st.
"This is an additional measure to reassure the public that there will be no threat during the games. It's something we are doing in parallel with the recommendations of the Department of Health and its expert group," she said.
The public health doctors, whose strike action has handicapped the State's ability to respond to the SARS crisis, yesterday accepted an invitation to talks at the Labour Relations Commission.
Mr Martin welcomed the development, saying "I have always said that the place to resolve that dispute was in either the LRC or the Labour Court, and that the industrial relations machinery of the State be used to the fullest extent possible before entering into any disputes. I would now hope there will be realistic engagement at the LRC."
On the Special Olympics, both the Minister and the Tánaiste, Ms Harney, described as "premature" Clonmel Borough Council's decision to request that athletes from Hong Kong not be invited to the town.
"I was disappointed to see that decision being taken at this stage," said Mr Martin. "We can understand, given the onset of an unknown virus like this, the degree of fear and anxiety that that can cause. . .but I think, for example, the recent decisions by the World Health Organisation in respect of travel advisories illustrate the necessity to be cautious in terms of jumping the gun on this issue."
Ms Davis said she fully understood local concerns "but what we don't want is the Special Olympics to be singled out as a special group. Remember, at the moment, anyone from any of the affected areas can come to the country."
The Department's expert group on SARS met again yesterday to discuss developments. It was briefed on the Minister's meeting on Tuesday with the Chinese ambassador to Ireland.
The Minister said: "They are offering a whole series of measures to try to reassure us on public health grounds" to ensure the participation of Chinese athletes.