Thousands of animals were slaughtered yesterday in the Cooley Peninsula in Co Louth after a case of foot-and-mouth disease was confirmed there on Thursday.
The cull of about 13,000 sheep is continuing today and up to 40,000 animals in the region may be slaughtered as a precautionary measure.
The Taoiseach, MrBertie Ahern has left theStockholm European summit early to oversee efforts aimed at heading off further cases.
Mr Ahern is returningto chair an emergency session of the Government task force in Dublin.
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Mr Bertie Ahern -
refused to condemn British handling of outbreak |
Gardaí and Department of Agriculture officials conducted a State-wide recheck last night of all farmers who are suspected of having contact with animals imported from Britain, either legally or by smugglers, in the past few weeks.
Up to 300 gardaí and Defence Forces personnel are manning checkpoints around Co Louth to ensure no livestock enter or leave the area without permission.
Farms in Carlow, Donegal, Cavan, Monaghan and Kilkenny were sealed off yesterday as "a precautionary measure" the Department of Agriculture said.
Efforts were continuing today to track down the source of the Co Louth outbreak,amid signs of cross-border disagreement.
TheDepartment of Agriculture maintained the case was secondary to the one in Co Armagh, but the authorities in the North claimed it could have originated elsewhere.
Last night the EU Standing Veterinary Committee approved the EU Commission's decision to regionalise the restrictionsto Co Louth.
Exports of live animals and animal products from the othercounties in the State will still be permitted.
Farmers' groups in Northern Ireland werelobbyingto be given the same treatment.
The Taoiseach, Mr Bertie Ahern, refused to condemn Britain's handling of the outbreak, despite a call from the leader of the Fine Gael party, Mr Michael Noonan that Mr Ahern raise the issue at the EU summit in Sweden yesterday.
Britain has 514 confirmed cases of the disease, and fears are growing that the outbreak there is now out of control.
France also confirmed a second case of the disease last night.
Mr Ahern saidhe had already discussedthe issue with British Prime Minister Mr Tony Blair, but would not be enteringa public dispute. "I think they are doing an enormous amount now," he added.
He also ruled out seeking further EU funds to help the Republic in its fight against the disease.
"We are already into a big budgetary position on BSE and other areas. It would not be prudent to start opening up other measures," he said.