Continental visitors to the State will be able to bring their pets without having to quarantine them for six months if they come through Britain.
Yesterday the Cabinet decided not to introduce a pet passport for people wishing to bring their pets from the European mainland to the State. The one required in the UK will suffice.
A special pilot scheme allowing animals into Britain was introduced on Monday.
However, because Britain and the Republic have a common zone in which pets can move freely, the Cabinet decided to amend the rabies control laws to facilitate the new scheme.
A Department of Agriculture spokesman said yesterday that as long as continental visitors to the State met the requirements of the British scheme, they could bring their animals here.
"That means that the animals will have to be vaccinated against rabies, have a micro-chip inserted and have a travel passport and health certification," he said.
The spokesman said he was aware there was a demand from visitors from Germany, France and Italy to bring their pets here on holiday.
"They will be allowed do that now as long as they comply with the British regulations and use Britain as a land bridge to travel here," he said.
A statement from the Minister for Agriculture and Food, Mr Walsh, announced the adjustment to the regulations.
He said they were necessary to maintain, within the context of the UK scheme, a common approach to rabies control.
He said the decision by the UK authorities followed a report by experts in the UK to examine alternatives to the existing quarantine system. This followed a fall in the incidence of rabies in western Europe and the development of technologies.
He said the British scheme, which would run for one year, would allow dogs and cats which met the scheme's requirements to enter or re-enter the UK along approved routes without being quarantined.
Mr Walsh said while it was not proposed to introduce a similar pilot scheme here, it was necessary to make adjustments to the State's legal requirements.
He emphasised that in all other aspects the State's quarantine laws would remain unchanged. Animals directly entering the State from anywhere other than the UK would be quarantined.