Deputy Foreign Editor
Ireland is in breach of the World Health Organization s International Health Regulations (IHR) on contagious disease control by failing to designate a competent authority at its ports and airports, according to documents seen by RTÉ News.
The documents also show that Ireland has been non-compliant for approximately a decade, despite high-level discussions on the issue between the Health Service Executive, Department of Health and Department of Transport.
Under the IHR a competent authority at points of entry must be designated to monitor the risk of dangerous contagious diseases entering the State.
Ireland has no such designated competent authority points of entry to the country.
Government plans to reopen schools for pupils with special needs on Thursday are in chaos amidst a backlash from teachers and special needs assistants (SNAs).
Schools were seen to be safe environments in the autumn and the public health advisory body, Nphet, holds the view that if they were open, they would still be safe.