North-West
Hotels and others in the tourism sector have already been badly hit in the Border counties. Among a list of events cancelled or deferred was the Sigerson Cup, due to be held in Sligo, and an IBEC conference in Bun doran, Theresa Judge, North-west Correspondent, reports.
Mr Sean McEniff, a Bundoran hotelier, said the foot-and-mouth scare was having a "disastrous" effect on the town because of its reliance on visitors from Northern Ireland.
Sligo County Council has advised staff living on farms to disinfect shoes and tyres on leaving home. Disinfectant mats have been placed at all council buildings.
Council staff have been told to stop all work on agricultural land except in emergencies. All civil defence training has been cancelled.
IBEC in the north west has called for stricter measures to help prevent the spread of the disease and said there were inconsistencies in the way the Border was being policed.
IBEC's regional director, Mr Padraig O'Grady, said he had received a number of complaints from companies and that clarification was needed on what food products could be taken over the Border.
He called for additional measures including the identification and slaughter of all animals imported from the North within the past four weeks, cancellation of non-urgent travel and more advice to business owners, especially supermarkets.
South-East
Farmers in west Waterford criticised people who visited scenic areas of the county in large numbers over the weekend, reports Chris Dooley, South East Correspondent.
Waterford County Council yesterday closed two areas in the Comeragh Mountains to the public after walkers in the Nire Valley and at Mahon Falls ignored warnings to stay away from the countryside.
A Fianna Fail member of the council, Mr Tom Cunningham, said 38 cars had been observed parked at Mahon Falls on Sunday. "When visitors were asked why they didn't heed the warnings about foot-and-mouth they said they didn't know anything about it. You would wonder what planet they were living on," he said.
The council secretary, Mr Peter Carey, said signs had been erected in the areas yesterday restricting access to residents. He understood a number of those who had visited at the weekend were from England and Wales.
Mr Cunningham, however, said many were also from Waterford city, Tramore and other nearby areas.
Mr Philip O'Neill, Kilkenny county secretary, said a contingency committee, which includes representatives of the Garda, the council and the Department of Agriculture, was reviewing the situation on a daily basis.
A number of public meetings on road developments have been put off. These included a planned meeting last night between members of the Wexford and Kilkenny local authorities and local deputations regarding the proposed New Ross bypass.
Events postponed by Carlow County Council include town renewal meetings and the launch this week of its floral pride competition. All works on public roads in the county have been terminated for the time being. The council has asked the public to minimise attendance at its offices and use the post or e-mail for communication where possible.
Yesterday's meeting of Tipperary South County Council was also postponed. Mr Michael Fitzgerald, the county secretary, said private contractors such as refuse collectors had been written to and reminded to take precautions to prevent the spread of foot-and-mouth.
Waterford Chamber of Commerce has asked businesses that have a large throughput of people from different areas to place disinfectant mats at their entrances. "Furthermore, businesses are being asked to check the source of their supplies, especially as regards farm produce; if this check gives rise to concern, alternative suppliers should be sought," it said.
West
Irish Farmers' Association members in Co Mayo have begun placing their own disinfectant procedures on some routes into the west of the county, but an IFA spokesman said yesterday there could be an insurance problem with such action, reports Lorna Siggins.
Farmers on Achill island were particularly incensed when a busload of visitors from the North arrived at the House of Prayer at the weekend without any apparent restriction. As a result, mats and straw were laid on access routes into the west of the county at Bellacorick, near Bangor-Erris, at the Ceide Fields and at Mulranny bridge.
In urban areas, disinfectant mats have been placed outside most public buildings and at entrances to shops and shopping malls. Court hearings in Galway city are expected to continue.
Most angling clubs had suspended outdoor activity on riverbanks at the weekend, as had hillwalking clubs and outdoor pursuit centres. The Galway Head of the River rowing race, which is one of the highlights of the city's St Patrick's weekend, has been cancelled.
South
Sporting enthusiasts in Cork are feeling the effects of the foot-and-mouth scare with the widespread cancellation of sporting fixtures in both the city and county, Olivia Kelleher reports.
The Cork Motor Club has cancelled the annual West Cork Rally with significant loss of revenue to the area. The Munster branch of Tennis Ireland has also cancelled all tennis activities including the finals of the AIB Bank Munster Winter League.
However, most golf clubs remain open, but with restricted access. The general manager of Kinsale Golf Club said the course is open only to members at the moment subject to further notice from the Golfing Union of Ireland.
The Southern Health Board cancelled its monthly meeting in Cork with the West Cork Drama Festival also being cancelled as a precautionary measure.
Ms Jean Kearney, public relations officer at the Cork Institute of Technology, said there was "huge concern" on the campus about the foot-and-mouth issue. "We have a lot of rural-based students on campus as well as our city students. People are being very conscientious about using the disinfectant mats," she said.