No restrictions on animals moving across border
The North's Agriculture Minister for Agriculture, Sinn Féin's Michelle Gildernew, has said today that there is no need for restrictions on moving animals across the border.
After an emergency meeting of the power-sharing executive, she said the North's Department of Agriculture would be liaising closely with its counterparts in Dublin.
Ms Gildernew has already moved to close the North's ports to all livestock from Britain and all meat importation has been halted.
She said, however, that there was no need to restrict animal movements between the North and the Republic.
People should still go out and enjoy the countryside as well, she said.
The minister said the situation was fluid and her department will be evaluating their response on an hourly basis taking everything into consideration and making steps as and when needed.
First Minister Ian Paisley praised Michelle Gildernew saying she had acted very promptly, properly and with great determination.
