Efforts underway to combat spread of foot-and-mouth
The Minister for Agriculture, Joe Walsh, has said efforts to contain the foot and mouth outbreak in Co Louth are underway.
The slaughter of 3,000 sheep in a 3km area around the affected farm, and a thousand cattle over a 1km radius, has been ordered.
The Minister added that he intends to lobby other EU countries to keep importing our meat and dairy produce from parts of the country outside the exclusion zone.
The expert group established to monitor the foot and mouth situation is also due issue recommendations on the reimposition of restrictions this afternoon.
