Foot-and-mouth a 'major disappointment' - Ahern

The Taoiseach annnounced to the Dáil this morning that foot-and-mouth disease had spread to the Republic.

He said: "I would like to inform the House the results of two of the samples taken from a flock in County Louth proved positive for foot-and-mouth disease.

"This is a major disappointment given the intensity of the efforts from all sectors of society to keep the disease out of Ireland.

"It is a secondary outbreak in the same exclusion zone, just south of the border in Jenkinstown.

"We have to prepare a case immediately for the Veterinary Committee."

The Government will meet with the Committee in the morning.

The Opposition parties pledged their full co-operation to the Government.