By Irishexaminer.com,Niamh Griffin And Paul Hosford In New York

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His assertion is strongly disputed by scientists worldwide and contradicted by multiple studies.

Irish Medical Organisation president Dr Anne Dee said: “There is no scientific evidence to suggest that paracetamol usage while pregnant is linked to autism in children.”

She also criticised comments by Mr Trump and US health secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr linking vaccines to autism.

These claims are “demonstrably false and hugely irresponsible,” she said, warning they could damage women’s trust in doctors at a time when they need support.

“These false assertions pose a real threat to public health, and the wellbeing of children and pregnant women,” she said.

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) spoke out against the claims on Tuesday.

The EMA, which assesses all medicines used across Europe, including Ireland, for safety, said paracetamol remains safe for pregnant women.

Chief Medical Officer Steffen Thirstrup said: “Paracetamol remains an important option to treat pain or fever in pregnant women.”

“Our advice is based on a rigorous assessment of the available scientific data and we have found no evidence that taking paracetamol during pregnancy causes autism in children.”

This statement was echoed by the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA), saying: “The HSE also advises that paracetamol is safe to take in pregnancy.”

HSE Chief Clinical Officer Dr Colm Henry also rejected the claims saying studies with pregnant women who were taking paracetamol did not identify the risks described by the Americans.

“There is no evidence of a link between autism and people taking paracetamol during pregnancy,” he said.

He added: “Of course people will be worried now” and he urged any pregnant woman with questions about pain-relief to talk to their doctor.

“As with any medication taken during pregnancy, we always advise the lowest possible dose for the shortest period of time,” he said.

Autistic people also strongly condemned the remarks.

AsIAM, the Irish national autism charity, said bluntly: “Autism is not a disease to be cured. It is a natural variation in human neurology.” They warned the comments take understanding of autism back several decades and described them as a distraction from the real challenges facing autistic people.

“We would remind community members living in Ireland that neither Irish health advice nor international scientific evidence links autism and paracetamol,” the charity said.

“It has been definitively established there is no link between autism and vaccination.” They pushed back against claims a rising number of autism diagnosis is a bad thing, saying they welcome greater recognition and support for autistic people now compared to in the past.

‘Concerning development’

Meanwhile, speaking in New York, Tánaiste Simon Harris — whose brother Adam is autistic and the founder of the autism charity AsIAm — called Mr Trump’s remarks a “concerning development” and said it was important to “follow the science” but avoided directly criticising the US president.

“And certainly all I can rely on as an Irish person, as an Irish government minister, as a member of the European Union is the clear medical advice available, and that medical advice does not support the position outlined by the United States.”

Mr Harris also welcomed comments from the European Medicines Agency, which he said “provide clarity to women during pregnancy that it is entirely appropriate to continue taking paracetamol.”

In a statement, AsIAm — Ireland’s leading autism advocacy organisation — said it was “deeply concerned” by the comments from the US government. The charity stressed that linking autism to paracetamol or vaccination was “not grounded in credible scientific evidence.”

The group warned such remarks risk “promoting a deeply medicalised, stigmatising, and ultimately harmful view of autistic people.”

The charity emphasised: “Autism is not a disease to be cured. It is a natural variation in human neurology.”

It added that spreading misinformation “fuels fear, prejudice, and undermines the dignity and rights of autistic people and their families.”

The organisation also reminded the public that international scientific evidence has definitively established there is no link between autism and vaccination and urged people to only rely on advice from qualified medical sources.

The charity added: “We send our support and good will to Autistic people in the United States at this troubling time for our community.”