The National Ploughing Championships would be called off instantly if there was any danger it would bring back foot-and-mouth to Ireland, the managing director of the National Ploughing Association, Mrs Anna May McHugh, said.
The NPA has decided to stage the event again in Ballacolla, Co Laois, on October 2nd, 3rd and 4th using criteria laid down by the expert group which advises the Minister for Agriculture on foot-and-mouth disease controls.
However, there is concern in veterinary and farming circles that with foot-and-mouth cases still being diagnosed at the rate of three a week in Britain, visitors from Britain could reintroduce the disease to the island.
There is particular concern that competitors from areas in Britain where the disease continues to be a problem could come or that the disease could be carried by traders from Britain who travel all over the UK and come in large numbers to the championship, the biggest agricultural event held annually in Ireland.
A Department of Agriculture spokesman said yesterday that if there were any new concerns relating to the disease, it would be asking the NPA to postpone the event.
"However, the NPA has been working closely with the expert group which has drawn up a protocol for staging the event. Those discussions are ongoing," said the spokesman.
Mrs McHugh said the NPA was working with the expert group to ensure there would be no spread of the disease, and it had been decided that competitors from areas still hit by the disease would not be coming.
"The expert group appears to be satisfied that the controls in place at ports will ensure that the disease will not be spread by either traders or machinery, and we are being guided by their advice," she said.
"We have also decided that it would be inappropriate to include livestock in this year's exhibition. However, pedigree breeds will have information stands and AI stations, animal health, handling equipment, feed and other companies will take part."
Mrs McHugh said the event, the largest of its kind in the world, could mark a rebirth in agriculture following the crisis caused by foot-and-mouth.
More than 120,000 people are expected to attend the festival, which will also mark the NPA's 70th anniversary. The championships were also held in the Laois village last year and the infrastructure remains in place, which allowed the organisers to delay making their decision.