A voluntary ban on hunting in the Republic was announced yesterday following a request from the Minister for Agriculture, Mr Walsh. He also requested the closure of marts in Border areas.
The Minister said that from 6 a.m. today he was restricting Border entry points for limited imports of live animals and animal products, including feed and feeding stuffs permitted under the European Commission ban.
Any transporter of live animals or agricultural produce attempting to enter the Republic through any crossing other than supervised ones or without documentation would be turned back, he said.
The designated crossings are Rossinver and Kiltyclogher in Leitrim, Blacklion, Leggykelly, Ahalane, Ballyconnell and Swanlinbar, Co Cavan; Ardmill Bridge, Ballincorry Bridge, Tullynagrow, Tyholland, Moy bridge, Inishannon, Newtown butler Road, Clones and Concession Road, Clones, Co Monaghan.
In Donegal the crossings will be at Muff, Bridgend, Killea, Lifford, Castlefin, Clyhore and Pettigo and in Louth the crossings will be at Omeath, Dromad, Drumbilla, Castle blayney's concession road, Carrickaneena, Dungooley Cross, Ballybinaby Cross and Sheelagh.
Mr Walsh said the centres had been set up to help the flow of traffic carrying non-banned goods and agricultural goods other than those hit by the EU ban.
The announcement came following the decision by Teagasc, the agriculture and food development authority, to close until further notice all its agricultural and horticultural colleges and local training centres. Teagasc also announced it had instructed all its students on farm placement to return to their own farms until further notice.
As an additional precaution, the organisation cancelled all farm visits by its advisory staff to farms in counties Cavan, Monaghan and Louth. It said information would be given to farmers over the telephone.
Among the Teagasc events which will be cancelled are the National Liquid Milk Conference scheduled for March 1st, and the Suckler Beef Demonstrations, arranged in nine livestock marts from March 6th to March 15th.
The Irish Farmers Association had earlier cancelled all meetings until the crisis passed and other organisations, including the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers' Association, followed suit.
Mr Pat O'Rourke, president of the ICMSA, yesterday offered the full resources of the organisation to the Department of Agriculture to ensure Ireland was protected from the spread of the disease. He said members' local knowledge and practical livestock experience may be of aid to the Department.
Earlier the Green Party, the Irish Council Against Blood Sports and the Association of Hunt Saboteurs had called for a ban on hunting here. The ICABS spokeswoman said it was shameful that coursing had not also been banned.
The weekly BSE figures yesterday showed five new cases, all in animals over six years old. This brings the total to 33 so far this year and 629 since the disease was first identified here in 1989.