Irish FMD measures to continue
Officials here insist there will be no let up in the battle to keep foot-and-mouth disease out of Ireland following a controversial decision by Tony Blair to scale up the clean operation in Britain.
The Prime Minister's decision comes amid reports that the British taxpayer is facing a clean up bill of Stg£800m.
However, it comes as animal rights groups warn of a fresh crisis, centred on Wales where up to 12,000 sheep are currently being tested.
The decision has set alarm bells ringing here, with officials at the Department of Agriculture saying there will be no lowering of the guard of this side of the Irish Sea.
Already all points of entry into the country have been written to and told to continue preventative measures.
Irish officials point out that Britain is still recording an average of 27 new cases a week, and say while that situation continues, so too will our measures.
