Department of Agriculture officials have met in Dublin to discuss the outbreak of the H5N1 strain of bird flu in England.
The European Commission and British authorities confirmed this morning that the deadly strain of the virus was responsible for the death of 2,500 turkeys on a Suffolk farm.
Labour's Mary Upton
Minister for Agriculture Mary Coughlan said following the news from England that the Management Committee of the Department's National Disease Control Centre met this morning.
The Committee reviewed the Department's contingency arrangements and a number of the measures have now been stepped up, she said in a statement. The Department is also reassessing the risk of the introduction of the disease into Ireland.
She said officials in Dublin were in contact with authorities in London, Belfast and with the European Commission in Brussels.
"I am confident that the extensive range of contingency measures in place, including legislative provisions, are appropriate to deal with the existing threat and I will not hesitate to introduce such further measures as would be appropriate to deal with any increased threat," Ms Coughlan said.
Labour Parth spokeswoman on Agriculture Mary Upton said the Government must be much more proactive in outlining the steps it is taking
"First and foremost Minister Mary Coughlan must reassure the public that there is no immediate need to panic. While the outbreak is potentially disastrous for the poultry industry and may have serious economic consequences, poultry remains safe to eat," she said.
"However, this virus respects no borders and the need for extreme vigilance and all measures necessary to prevent its spread to Ireland is the immediate priority.
"This must include increased surveillance at ports and airports and improved monitoring of all those who have visited farms in England and who are entering Ireland."
