Clonmel Borough Council last night postponed an expected debate on whether to review its decision to advise against the Hong Kong delegation travelling to the town for next month's Special Olympics.
The Minister for the Environment and Local Government, Mr Cullen, wrote to the local authority last week asking it to reconsider its recommendation, made at a special meeting on April 29th amid growing concern over the world wide spread of the SARS virus.
The mayor of Clonmel, Mr Niall Dennehy, to whom the letter was addressed, said he had yet to receive it before travelling to the UK yesterday for a family bereavement. Because of this commitment he was unable to attend last night's meeting, and councillors said it would be inappropriate to debate the issue in his absence.
In his letter to the mayor dated May 2nd Mr Cullen said the threat of SARS was being assessed by an expert group on the issue, led by the Department of Health and Children. The group was co-ordinating the necessary measures in the areas of public policy and services to support the protection of public health.
While they claim that local support for their recommendation remains strong, Clonmel's town councillors have come under fire from outside the area.
Both the Tánaiste, Ms Harney, and the Minister for Health, Mr Martin, criticised their decision, describing it as "premature". The Taoiseach last Friday urged people to "keep a sense of prospective" in relation to SARS as it affected the Special Olympics. Mr Ahern added that it was too early for any host town to decide that adequate arrangements to provide reassurance on the issue could not be put in place.
A decision by Clonmel's Special Olympics organising committee on whether or not to accept the council's recommendation is not due until the Department's expert group reports on the issue.
The group, which has received advice from the World Health Organisation on SARS-related risks associated with travelling athletes, plans to report within a fortnight.
In an effort to allay fears about SARS, the Special Olympics National Organising Committee has requested all athletes travelling from affected areas to undergo a 10- to 14-day quarantine in their home countries.
