More than 7.5 million sheep in the State have been tagged since the identification system was introduced following the foot-and-mouth crisis earlier this year.
The tagging system is part of the controls being put in place to prevent a further outbreak of the disease. These controls were reviewed yesterday at a meeting in Belfast between the Minister for Agriculture, Mr Walsh, and the North's Minister of Agriculture, Mrs Brid Rodgers.
Mrs Rodgers had invited Mr Walsh to inspect the disinfection facilities at Larne port, and later the ministers reviewed various aspects of the foot-and-mouth situation.
A statement issued in Dublin said the review was carried out against the backdrop of the risk posed to the island of Ireland by the continuing incidence of foot-and-mouth disease in Britain. The ministers reviewed reports from Britain and the extensive programmes of serological testing which have been carried out in sheep flocks North and South.
"The ministers noted, by reference to the ongoing situation in Britain, the current potential for major economic and social damage and disruption North and South, arising from the possibility that the disease could establish itself on the island," it said.
The ministers, it added, had reiterated their joint commitment to sustained and effective measures to prevent a spread of the disease from Britain for so long as such a risk existed.
Underlining the importance of maintaining effective controls at ports and airports as the first line of defence against the disease, they stressed their effectiveness and integrity were critical factors in ensuring no further cases occur.
Both ministers stressed it would be unwise to rely solely for protection on a single line of defence, and it was imperative that farmers, hauliers, marts staff and anyone involved in agriculture take all precautions against the disease.
They called on the farming organisations, North and South, to combat complacency among their members and said the island would remain at risk from Britain for some time to come.
They will meet again next month to continue the review.