A Galway businessman called yesterday for the delivery of foot-and-mouth disinfectant to every home and business in the State to combat the difficulty people were having in obtaining disinfectant.
Mr Joe Coyne, a Loughrea publican, said he had placed a mat outside his premises but had found it impossible to get any of the disinfectants approved for use.
He said there were disinfected mats outside only a handful of premises in his town.
People were not behaving irresponsibly. They just could not get disinfectant. Even supplies of washing soda in local shops had sold out.
"Last year every home got a letter from the State and a millennium candle, all of which cost a fortune. Could the Government not do the same with washing soda and get postmen or the Army to deliver supplies to every home and business? It would cost a bit but the cost could be more if they don't do it," he said.
He added that he had found a company in Mayo with supplies of disinfectant, but to get his hands on it he would have to make a round trip of 100 miles and in making the trip would be disregarding Department advice not to travel through the countryside.
The Department of Agriculture said yesterday supplies could now be obtained in most areas.
A spokeswoman suggested Mr Coyne contact Chanelle Veterinary Ltd in Loughrea.
However, when he contacted the company he was told it had no disinfectant in stock but staff were working around the clock to produce supplies, which will be available today.
Mr Malcolm Totten, director of Agri-Health Ltd, in Monaghan, said he had sold more disinfectant last week than in the whole of last year.
"It is in very short supply. We are doing the loaves and fishes with it. We could sell a lot more if we had it, but we are trying to be fair to everybody," he said.
Agri-Health Ltd has been supplying the Department with disinfectant for Border crossings and hopes to have a further delivery of supplies today.
Scarcity of disinfectant does not appear to be a problem in all areas.
Stocks were replenished by many stores across the State over the weekend, and IFA offices in Cork, Carlow and Louth said the problem seemed to have eased.