All-Ireland response:Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and the North's First Minister, Ian Paisley, have formally agreed there must be full co-operation between the Government and the Northern Executive to try to prevent foot-and-mouth disease breaking out in Ireland.
Northern Ministers broke from their holidays on Saturday to hold an emergency meeting of the Executive to address the issue, while also on Saturday Mr Ahern and Dr Paisley were in telephone contact about ensuring the disease does not spread to Ireland.
"They had a very positive conversation with both agreeing that whatever co-operative measures were needed to be put in place would be put in place," said a spokesman for the Taoiseach.
"They both recognised that agriculture is a very important industry in the North and South and that it is very important to keep foot-and-mouth disease off the island of Ireland," he added.
The respective Ministers, Michelle Gildernew in the North and Mary Coughlan in the South, and veterinary officials from Belfast and Dublin, were in contact over the weekend to devise strategies to safeguard the industry.
Dr Paisley and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness held a 90-minute meeting of the Executive on Saturday, after which Ms Gildernew announced a total ban on the importation of cattle, sheep, pigs and goats from Britain into Northern Ireland.
Both jurisdictions have in effect put in place a "fortress Ireland" approach to prevent foot-and-mouth breaking out on the island.
There are no restrictions on the movement of animals in Northern Ireland and between the North and South, said Ms Gildernew. She said she also hoped that the European Union would allow Northern farmers to continue to export beef and other farm produce.
Ms Gildernew - who today will brief the Assembly agriculture committee, as well as farming organisations, meat exporters, retailers and meat plant representatives on the outbreak - also instructed that vehicle and foot-passenger disinfectant mats be installed at sea and air ports.
"We have acted very quickly to close the ports to ensure that we batten down the hatches and ensure we took whatever precautions we could to try and stop the spread of the disease coming into Ireland," she said.
"The situation will be kept constantly under review and we have mirrored closely what is happening with the Department of Agriculture in the South in order to create a fortress Ireland approach and to ensure that we are protecting the island from foot-and-mouth disease," added Ms Gildernew.
"There is a barrier of water there, the Irish Sea, to try and ensure we keep the disease at bay and we are taking whatever precautions are being taken in the 26 counties to ensure that we not only keep the disease out but keep trade links with the rest of the island going," she said.
Dr Paisley, who has a keen personal interest in agriculture, issued what was a clarion call to the Northern public to act responsibly to keep foot-and-mouth disease off the island.
As well as speaking to Mr Ahern, he was in contact with British prime minister Gordon Brown over the weekend and also with the respective Scottish and Welsh first ministers, Alex Salmond and Rhodri Morgan.
"There is no room for complacency in this fight," said Dr Paisley. "We should endeavour to do all within our strength and human capability to contain and eradicate this plight."
SDLP agriculture spokesman PJ Bradley endorsed the "fortress Ireland" approach and called on Ms Gildernew to seek observer status at the emergency British government meetings dealing with the outbreak.
More than 50,000 animals were slaughtered in Northern Ireland during the 2001 outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease.
