The Minister for Agriculture Mr Walsh said a ban on the importation of animals from France will be imposed following the today’s confirmation of foot-and-mouth disease on a farm there.
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At a media briefing today Mr Joe Walsh said there is no cause for any dilution or complacency of controls in the Republic.
"If anything there is a need to be more vigilant because of the outbreak of foot-and mouth in France and the suspect case in Italy," he said.
In Brussels, EU Standing Veterinary Committee announced a total export ban on live animals from France following the first outbreak of food-and-mouth disease outside Britain.
The vets also agreed a ban on fresh meat and milk from the Mayenne area in France. The bans apply until March 27th.
Mr Walsh said following the preliminary negative results from a suspected sheep in Co Tyrone the surveillance on the Monaghan side of the border is being stepped down.
The Minister described this week as critical because it brings to an end the 30-day period since restrictions were first put in place in the Republic.
The Department’s expert group is currently deliberating a refinement of the measures and when low risk activities can resume, he said.
But the Minister said there will be no ease of measures until the expert group delivers its proposals at the end of the week.
The Republic will not be out of the woods until 30 days after the last outbreak in Britain, he said, adding that he continued to be greatly concerned with the situation there.
He said the outbreak in Britain is "is out of control" and the disease is "rampant."
However he said he is getting full cooperation from the British authorities and was in regular consultation with the British Minister for Agriculture, Mr Nick Brown.
Mr Walsh also said he would expect it will be "some considerable time" before the resumption of marts in the Republic because of the risk posed by contact between animals.
To date, 712 flocks or herds have been placed under restriction but there are no clinical signs of the disease and some of the restrictions on these groups have been removed, the Minister said.
A total of 3,877 animals have been slaughtered and 21 samples have been sent for tests in Britain as a precautionary measure.
There are still no cases of foot-and-mouth in Ireland, Mr Walsh insisted.