Sheep are considered to present a particular risk in the spread of foot and mouth disease because of the difficulty in diagnosing the disease and the length of the incubation period in the species. For this reason it remains the case that normal movement of sheep has not yet been allowed to resume. Equally, I do not yet consider it appropriate to allow sheep back on to the Curragh where there is open grazing and to which the public has access.
I will keep this matter under review in the light of veterinary advice on the results of the programme of serological screening for FMD of up to 200,000 sheep in which my Department is at present engaged and the ongoing risk overhang from the UK.