All livestock marts in the Republic are off because of the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in Britain.
Curbs on moving animals have been imposed on 100 farms in Northern Ireland, all of which will be investigated daily to monitor animals recently imported from Britain.
Twelve cases of the virus have been confirmed in Britian and there are fears that it up to 100,000 cattle, sheep and pigs in Britain may have come into contact with the virus.
Authorities have confirmed 25,000 animals may have passed through three marts in Britain where the disease was found before a livestock movement ban was introduced.
In a statement last night the Minister for Agriculture Mr Walsh asked farmers to restrict access to their holdings to one entrance/exit point and to ensure disinfectant straw was placed there.
"I am also asking co-operatives, dairies, veterinary practices and the many other undertakings which interact with farmer clients to do likewise," he said.
The Department has also urged thousands of Irish rugby fans planning to travel to Wales for this weekend’s match to stay at home to minimise the risk of bringing the disease back with them.
Fine Gael's agrivulture spokesman Mr Alan Dukes criticised what he described as insufficient controls at ports and airports and called for an emergency team to ensure no potentially infected material gets into the State.