The Foreign Affairs Minister has outlined some of the steps the EU is taking to tackle the Ebola virus, saying there is a "very ambitious programme" to ensure medical aid is available for countries affected by the current outbreak.

EU foreign ministers met in Luxembourg yesterday, where they agreed to increase efforts to counter the spread of the virus.

Minister Flanagan says the pooling of resources, improved medical aid and screening were all discussed:

Ireland has provided €16m in aid, through direct donations and NGOs. Yesterday Minister Flanagan said the Irish Embassy in the Sierra Leone capital of Freetown "is very active in helping to coordinate the local effort."

It was announced yesterday that Nigeria is Ebola free after more than six weeks without a case. There were just eight confirmed deaths from Ebola in Nigeria since the outbreak began. Senegal was also pronounced as Ebola free last week.

The outbreak in west Africa has killed more than 4,500 people, according to the World Health Organisation.