The Irish expert group on avian flu has advised against the compulsory housing of free range poultry and other birds despite the recent spread of the virus across Europe.
The group, which was established by Minister for Agriculture Mary Coughlan to advise her on control measures, said following an assessment of the risk posed by the H5N1 strain of the virus it did not believe that such a course of action was necessary at this time.
But it said it would keep the issue under "continuous review".
The group held its inaugural meeting in Dublin today under the chairmanship of Prof Michael Monaghan.
Ms Coughlan had requested the group determine whether the current threat posed by the virus warranted the compulsory housing of domestic poultry.
In a statement this evening, Ms Coughlan said: "The Group considered the extensive range of contingency measures which the Department of Agriculture has already put in place with a view to evaluating their adequacy in the current circumstances and concluded that the measures in place are sufficient at this time."
She also announced that her Department's bird flu helpline (on 1890 252 283) would now be open 24 hours a day and seven days a week for people seeking information or wishing to report dead birds.
Meanwhile the Minister for Health Mary Harney will travel to Vienna on Friday to attend a meeting of EU health ministers on how to deal with the spread of the virus which has killed 90 people in Asia.
