FMD 'a major blow to our country' - O'Malley

Louth IFA Chairman Raymond O'Malley - the farmers' association's former national president - said he was forlorn at the news that foot-and-mouth had broken out in his native county.

Mr O'Malley said: "Certainly, it's a major body blow to our country, to farmers, to everybody after the effort that has been made. But I think the damage has to be confined now to the exclusion zones."

ICMSA President Pat O'Rourke said: "We are extremely disappointed that the farming community and the public's efforts to restrict foot-and-mouth have failed.

"I am confident this will be the only case in the Republic as we have enacted a very impressive containment policy in Louth against foot-and-mouth.

"I believe we will know in a matter of days if it will be contained or not."