Poultry farmers still need to be prepared to put their birds indoors

IRELAND may escape bird flu despite the virus having swept across Europe over the past few months, according to Agriculture Minister Mary Coughlan.

But poultry farmers should be prepared to put their birds indoors which would be one of the first steps taken if the disease reaches Ireland, she said.

In the meantime the European Commission confirmed that farmers forced to destroy their flocks would be compensated in full for the loss and for other measures including disinfection.