Ireland to resume import of British greyhounds

The Government tonight gave the go-ahead for the import of greyhounds from Britain to resume.

A ban on the racing dogs entering the State from Britain and Northern Ireland has been applied since the start of the foot-and-mouth crisis.

But Minister for Agriculture Mr Joe Walsh said greyhound imports were to be permitted again - subject to the observations of certain conditions, including declarations that all procedures had been properly observed.

The move marked the latest in a series of relaxations in a rigorous set of controls and restrictions imposed to head off foot-and-mouth.

Over the past weeks a number of countries have resumed livestock or meat imports from this country. PA