The urgent slaughter of at least 10,000 sheep and 2,500 cattle is to take place in Co Louth today in a desperate attempt to prevent the spread of the first confirmed outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in the State in nearly 60 years.
The move was announced by the Minister for Agriculture, Mr Walsh, last night and extends a cull announced following confirmation of the outbreak at a farm in Proleek. It sent shock waves throughout the State and the economy as Irish livestock exports were banned by the EU and non-EU countries.
Irish stock market losses extended to more than 5 per cent once the outbreak was confirmed. Goodbody stockbrokers cut its economic growth forecast (GNP) for the year from 8.2 per cent to 6.2 per cent because of the deteriorating conditions. However, the head of research, Mr Colin Hunt, stressed that even at that level the Irish economy would outperform other EU countries.
Garda reinforcements had moved to the area in north Louth on Wednesday night and tightened their controls on movements of animals and people in the area in anticipation of test results on samples taken on the farm.
As preparations were being made to reopen a meat factory in Ravensdale to handle the killing and rendering of susceptible animals within a three-kilometre zone, investigations centred on whether the disease may have spread from Meigh, Co Armagh, nearly four miles away.
The Minister for Agriculture said it was impossible to say at this stage how this farm got the disease, but it could have been airborne.
Mr Walsh said his officials were "desperately seeking the source of the disease because our nightmare is that there could be disease somewhere incubating at this time".
The European Commission imposed an embargo on all exports from Ireland of livestock suspected of carrying foot-and-disease, but this is not to include food exports outside of Co Louth. It applies to all cattle, sheep, goats, pigs and other "potential carriers", the Commission said. It would remain in place until April 4th, along with other preventive measures.
Ireland's stringent measures against the disease allowed the EU to limit yesterday's food export ban to Co Louth, according to the Food Safety Commissioner, Mr David Byrne.
Speaking in Brussels after the Commission imposed the ban on exports of livestock, meat and dairy products from the county, Mr Byrne praised the actions of the Government. "In view of the very stringent and effective measures taken by the Irish Government since February 28th, I have been able to persuade my colleagues to limit the export ban to Co Louth," he said.
The EU veterinary committee is due to meet this morning to determine if restrictions within Ireland and export controls are sufficient.
There was some surprise yesterday when Mr Walsh announced that the easing of restrictions on a range of social and cultural events announced last week have not been reversed by the expert committee under the chairmanship of Prof Michael Monaghan.