Thirty days after the discovery of the State's only incident of foot-and-mouth disease in Co Louth, the Minister for Agriculture has announced a lifting of restrictions on the rest of the county.
Mr Walsh made the announcement while visiting the affected area on the Cooley peninsula today.
Yesterday he said the 10-kilometre zone around the affected farm in Proleek, Co Louth, would remain for another week but today indicated the EU standing Veterinary Committee has given clearance for restrictions to be lifted on the rest of the county - effective from midnight.
In Northern Ireland, movement of animals from farms direct to slaughterhouses will be allowed again from Monday, the North's agricultural minister, Ms Bríd Rodgers, announced.
She also said farmers in Northern Ireland would be allowed to put cattle out to pasture from the same date as long as no sheep had grazed on the land in the previous 14 days.
After discussions between the two ministers at Dundonald House, Belfast, they also spoke out against illegal animal movements amid mounting evidence that this was probably the source of the four outbreaks of foot-and-mouth in Ireland, north and south, in the past six weeks.
Mr Walsh said: "The message for people involved in smuggling and illegal movement is a very stark one and it is that this is a very unpleasant island for people engaged in that activity."
Those convicted of such offences face jail terms of up to five years and fines of up to £100,000 sterling plus seizure of assets, he warned.
A special hotline for people with information about the illegal movement of animals is in operation today and tomorrow.
"Every shred of information about animals which may have been imported is important to us in our battle to prevent the spread of FMD. Those involved in farming and in rural communities have most to lose if we do not succeed," the Minister said.
The hotline numbers are: 01-6072909 and 01-6072919.
Additional reporting by PA