A number of birds were still being investigated for bird flu by Department of Agriculture staff yesterday, as the frequency of calls to its avian flu helpline decreased over the weekend.
A department spokesman said none of the results in relation to some 300 birds tested since February have been positive.
The number of calls to the department's helpline had "tapered off" to 75 per day over the weekend, down from 155 on Friday. About a quarter of the calls related to dead swans, he added. "We are testing every day and that work is ongoing. It will continue for as long as is deemed necessary."
Fears of a widespread outbreak of bird flu in the UK were receding last night after it was confirmed that the infected swan found in Scotland last week is the only established case of the H5N1 strain there.
The Department of Agriculture's advice remains that it represents a marginal increase in the risk to Ireland, its spokesman said. He refused to comment on the number or location of the birds currently being examined for bird flu in Ireland.
However, it is believed that there are at least five birds under investigation and that one of the birds is a dead goose discovered near Bailieborough, Co Cavan, with two swans also understood to be under investigation in the Dublin area.
A spokeswoman for the Food Safety Authority of Ireland yesterday stressed that it was "extremely unlikely" that a bird suffering from avian flu would enter the food chain here. This was because such birds tend to get sick and die "very rapidly".
"In the extremely unlikely event of one getting into the food chain, the virus is deactivated by cooking thoroughly," she said.
A spokesman for the Irish Farmers' Association said consumers have a "heightened awareness" of where their poultry comes from, with many choosing not to eat imported produce. The IFA had previously estimated a fluctuation of between 10-15 per cent in the poultry market, which might be attributable to fears over avian flu, he said.