The Government has today warned of the dangers of foot-and-mouth disease being brought into Ireland by fans attending the World Cup. There has been a widespread outbreak if the disease in one of the tournament's host countries Korea.
The Irish team will play their first round games in Japan but if they progress to the second stage they will go to Korea.
The Department of Agriculture plans to distribute leaflets to all Irish supporters heading for the Far East.
The Minister for Agriculture, Mr Walsh said: "I do not believe the situation poses an immediate threat - but it is one we will obviously have to watch very closely.
The minister's comments follow an outbreak of the disease last year on both sides of the border which severely affected sporting and other events for several months.
The wide-ranging regulations imposed at the time severely affected incomes in the agriculture and tourism industries.
The Department of Foreign Affairs today issued an advice leaflet for soccer fans covering all aspects of travelling to Japan and Korea for the tournament.
Issues dealt with in the document included the cost of living in the host countries and the use of credit cards, the menace of ticket touts, transport arrangements, communications, the time difference, emergency telephone numbers - and "the unlikely event" of earthquakes.
PA