Horse racing banned after disease scare

The Government today announced a ban on all horse and greyhound racing in the Republic, tightening efforts to keep foot-and-mouth disease out of the country.

In addition, Agriculture Minister Joe Walsh said there would be no imports of horses or greyhounds from midnight tonight.

And he was "strongly advising" the Irish Rugby Football Union to postpone Saturday’s Ireland versus Wales Six Nations championship match in Cardiff.

As further cases of the disease were confirmed in the UK, the minister said a case in an Anglesea abattoir was a particular worry, given the volume of ferry traffic between Holyhead and Ireland.

The Government is stepping up the enforcement of its ban on all livestock, meat and dairy products imported from the UK at a cost of £1m a week.

Mr Walsh said: "Developments in the UK pose a growing and real threat to Ireland given the volume of traffic through Holyhead and the case in Anglesey is clearly a particular worry.

"In keeping with the precautionary approach which we have adopted since the first case of FMD in the UK, I consider it necessary at this point to add to the range of protective measures already in place by taking a number of further actions."

The department is also advising that Irish horses, trainers and racing fans should stay away from next month’s Cheltenham festival.

The new ban on horse and greyhound imports will not apply to Northern Ireland for now.

All livestock markets throughout the Republic have already been stopped until further notice.

Hunting has also been banned throughout the country, with other farming and agri-sporting events.

Mr Walsh said: "I know there will be particular disappointment among sports fans.

"There is so much at stake in terms of the risk to this country posed by the outbreak of FMD in the UK that national concerns, however, must take precedent."

He added that further measures could not be ruled out.