The Taoiseach has said the system of voluntary vaccinations will remain after it emerged that NPHET is to hold a meeting on the issue.

Taoiseach rules out mandatory vaccinations as NPHET to discuss issue

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The Taoiseach has moved quickly to rule out mandatory vaccinations in Ireland.

It comes after minutes of a recent NPHET meeting published by the Department of Health show that NPHET was due to discuss the issue at a later date and that the Department of Health is preparing a paper on the ethical and legal considerations of mandatory vaccinations.

The excerpt from the minutes of a meeting of NPHET in December which indicates that it would consider the issue of mandatory vaccinations.

The possibility of mandatory vaccination has sparked strong political and public opposition already.

Speaking to RTÉ News in Cork today, Micheál Martin ruled out the introduction of mandatory vaccination.

"First of all, NPHET will examine every issue so that they can give advice to government," Mr Martin told RTÉ News.

He said he favoured voluntary vaccination.

"I fully respect that people will obviously explore the issues and research them and so on but, from my perspective, we have achieved one of the highest rates in the world through a voluntary system and that is the system we will maintain."

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