Fine Gael has cancelled its ardfheis scheduled to take place in Dublin this weekend amid fears over the spread of foot-and-mouth disease.
The Fine Gael leader Mr Michael Noonan said he had taken the decision "in the national interest".
Over 5,000 party members were expected to travel to Dublin from all parts of the State.
"I appreciate that the risk of a potential foot-and-mouth disease from an event such as an ardfheis is very low but the issue is so important that to take any risk at all is too high a risk," Mr Noonan said.
"The bringing of large crowds of both rural and urban dwellers together from all parts of the country would be irresponsible."
The key issue was the prevention of movement of people with potential of contact with the farming community, he added.
Mr Noonan said it had not been an easy decision to make especially because he believed it would have been the biggest ardfheis of recent years.
Asked if the ardfheis would be rescheduled for before a general election, Mr Noonan said as yet there was no date set for an election and the foot-and-mouth crisis had the potential to upset the political timetable in Ireland as well as Britain.
He said Fianna Fáil would be advised to take the situation into consideration in relation to their ardfheis due to take place in early April.
Fine Gael will now hold a smaller conference of Dublin-based party members and guests on Saturday evening.
When the foot-and-mouth risk recedes the party will hold a series of regional conferences so that members of all parts of the country can come together.
The appointment of Mr Padraig McCormack as parliamentary party chairman was also announced today.
Concern was expressed by the Fine Gael leader on the Government measures taken to prevent an outbreak of foot-and-mouth here.
While satisfied with the Government’s regulatory regime, Mr Noonan said the party did not believe they were being fully implemented.
Responding to the possibility of an outbreak of foot-and-mouth in Armagh, Mr Noonan said it was devastating news and if true it changes everything. "The lackadaisical approach being taken by the Government will have to stop," he said.