Disinfectant-spraying facilities operated and paid for by the Government are now fully operational at five British ports, the Minister for the Marine, Mr Fahey has confirmed.

Port authorities at Liverpool, Holyhead, Heysham, Fishguard and Swansea had agreed to the installation of automatic spraying equipment for all vehicles embarking for Ireland. The port authority in Pembroke agreed to adjust the systems in place, he said, to deal with the foot-and-mouth crisis.

The Minister informed Labour's finance spokesman, Mr Derek McDowell, in a written reply that the cost of the spraying equipment was about £105,0000, which was funded by the Department of Agriculture and no contribution was sought from the UK authorities.

He stressed that the move to put in automatic spraying, paid for by Ireland, "is not to be taken as a criticism of disinfection procedures in UK ports. In fact, the UK was required under EU law to put in place `disinfection procedures'. "However, we decided that the more effective spraying facilities, not required under EU law, would better protect Ireland."

He said the port authorities on both sides of the Irish Sea had excellent working relations and the decision to pay for the facilities "reflects the fact that it is the island of Ireland that will benefit".