A Sligo Leitrim TD has urged all farmers to double their efforts when it comes to preventing the spread of Bluetongue,

Officials from the Department of Agriculture are meeting today to discuss the first outbreak of bluetongue in the Republic of Ireland.

The virus was confirmed in a cattle herd in Co Wexford at the weekend.

The Department of Agriculture says it increased its testing and surveillance for Bluetongue since the virus was detected in Northern Ireland last month.

The Sinn Fein spokesperson on Agriculture is Deputy Martin Kenny he says that although the virus doesn't pose any threat to food safety or human health it has the potential do doe serious harm on farms.