Restriction zones have been put in place around a commercial turkey farm in Co Carlow, after an outbreak of the highly pathogenic H5N1 strain of avian influenza, or bird flu was detected there.
It is understood the farm has a flock of around 500 turkeys.
This is the first outbreak of bird flu in a commercial poultry flock in Ireland since 2023, although the virus has been detected in more than 40 wild birds across the country this year.
A 3km protection zone and a 10km surveillance zone are in place around the site in Carlow.
Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon said the outbreak is a "reminder to us all of the importance of robust biosecurity".
"This is why I announced a biosecurity order that took effect last Saturday," he said.
"Strict biosecurity is the best defence we have against the threat of avian influenza."
"Thankfully, the disease poses no food safety risk to consumers of well-cooked poultry products, including eggs," he added.
Outbreaks of highly pathogenic bird flu have also been identified in poultry flocks in several European countries as well as the United Kingdom this year.
It comes after Fota Wildlife Park announced it will remain closed until at least the end of the month due to an "ongoing assessment of the national avian flu situation".
The UK is due to bring in a housing order for captive poultry flocks on Thursday that will include Northern Ireland, with the Government here expected to introduce a similar measure.
The Irish Farmers' Association has called on the Department of Agriculture to "respond swiftly and implement equivalent protective measures here".
Although avian influenza can be very contagious between birds, the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) and the European Centre for Disease Control (ECDC) advise that the risk to public health from the strain circulating is very low.
Members of the public are advised not to handle sick or dead wild birds and to report any episodes of sick or dead wild birds to their regional veterinary office or, if outside business hours, to contact the National Disease Emergency Hotline on 01 492 8026 or use the Department of Agriculture's 'Avian Check' app.
