The Labour party has called on the Government to strengthen checks at ports and airports following the discovery of the case of bird flu in the UK.
Britain's first case was undergoing further tests today to see if the parrot involved contains the deadly H5N1 strain of the virus which can be lethal to humans.
Labour's spokeswoman on agriculture and food, Dr Mary Upton, also called on the Minister for Agriculture to seek agreement on an EU-wide ban on the importation of wild birds while the threat of avian flu remains.
"It is now very clear that along with other western European countries, Ireland is facing real danger from the rapid spread westwards of avian flu with the consequent risk of an avian flu pandemic that could have potentially catastrophic consequences for the human population," Dr Upton said.
"Every precaution possible must be taken to prevent it from reaching our shores."