Further bio-security measures could be imposed to combat the spread of foot-and-mouth disease into the country, the Minister for Agriculture Mary Coughlan said today.
This comes as British authorities confirmed cattle culled at a second Surrey farm tested positive for the disease.
On Wednesday, Minister Coughlan and her Northern Ireland counterpart Michelle Gildernew re-imposed an all-island ban on British livestock and animal products after an outbreak in Egham.
Martin Higgins, chief executive of Safefood
She said while she considered the measures in place sufficient, she had not ruled out imposing further controls if required.
A Department spokeswoman however could not confirm what these might entail. Meanwhile food safety chiefs have advised consumers that foot-and-mouth does not pose a health threat to humans.
Martin Higgins, chief executive of Safefood, said: "Foot-and-mouth disease does not pose a threat to food safety. It is an animal health issue and we want to reassure concerned consumers that the disease cannot be contracted by people eating meat, meat products or drinking milk.
"The ban on the imports of certain foods from Great Britain and the restrictions on the movement of animals and people in that region, are solely as a precaution to protect the food chain on the island of Ireland and prevent the spread of the disease to animals," he said.
Last week Ms Coughlan announced the discontinuation in Ireland of bio-security measures, such as the removal of disinfectant points from ports and airports as Britain was declared free from the disease after last month's scare.
A ban on the importation from Britain of live animals, as well as fresh meat, meat products, raw milk and milk products was also lifted. All were reintroduced after Wednesday's announcement of a fresh case at a farm around 48km from the site of August's outbreak.
Ms Coughlan said she would be monitoring events in Surrey and will meet with senior department officials over the weekend to review the situation.