Client News

Highest Rate of Enforcement Orders this year, as Closure Orders Served on Food Business in April

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) today reported that 21 Closure Orders were served on food businesses during the month of April for breaches of food safety legislation, pursuant to the FSAI Act, 1998 and the European Union (Official Controls in Relation to Food Legislation) Regulations, 2020. The Closure Orders were issued by Environmental Health Officers in the Health Service Executive (HSE).  

Fifteen Closure Orders were served under the FSAI Act, 1998, on: 

• Ginger Lillies Chinese Restaurant, 18 Mulgrave Street, Limerick 
• Medina Kebab (Lets Eat) (Take away), 329 Blarney Street, Cork 
• Georgian Delight (service sector), Kitchen 3, 58-66 Parnell Street, Moore Street Mall, Moore Street, Dublin 1  
• Sabor Nordestino (restaurant/café), 58-66 Parnell Street, Moore Street Mall, Moore Street, Dublin 1 
• Spicy Bite (restaurant/café), Unit 1, Moore Mall, Moore Street, Dublin 1 
• Mroz (retailer), Moore Street Mall, Moore Street, Dublin 1 
• Smaczne.Go! (restaurant/café), Moore Street Mall, 58/66 Parnell Street, North City, Dublin 1 
• D Candy (retailer), Main Street, Roscommon 
• Uptown Restaurant, Old Milk Market Lane, Killarney, Kerry 
• Payless Grocery & Meat, 46 Port Road, Letterkenny, Donegal  
• Bites By Kwanghi (restaurant/café), Capital Dock, 83 Sir John Rogerson’s Quay, Dublin 2 
• Fresh (restaurant/café), Capital Dock, 4-5 Stephens Walk, Dublin 2 
• Musashi Noodles and Sushi (restaurant/café), 15 Capel Street, Dublin 1 
• All Bar Chicken (Closed area: the kitchen and storage areas) (restaurant/café), 47 Nassau Street, Dublin 2 
• Fortune Terrace (restaurant/café), 46-49 O’Connell Street Upper, Dublin 1 

Six Closure Orders was served under the European Union (Official Controls in Relation to Food Legislation) Regulations, 2020 on: 

• Chicking (restaurant/café), Unit 3, O’Boyce’s Corner, Port Road, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal 
• Fitzpatrick Castle Hotel (Closed areas: the operations from Albert & Behan Kitchen, PJ’s Kitchen and Mapas Kitchen – the serving of beverages from the bar area is not affected by this closure order), Killiney Hill Road, Killiney, Co. Dublin 
• Café Brazil (retailer), 63 Thomas Street, Dublin 8 
• The Ballsy Baker (Closed activity: preparation production and sale of food product with the claim ‘Nut Free’ and ‘Gluten Free’, and internet sites or social media sites it operates promoting and advertising the sale of food with these claims) (retailer), 10 Saint Mochtas Lawn, Clonsilla, Dublin 15 
• Oriental Pantry (retailer), 22-23 Moore Street, Dublin 1 
• Pastel King (restaurant/café), 22-23 Moore Street, Dublin 1 

Some of the reasons for the Enforcement Orders in April include: evidence of rodent infestation; significant amounts of rodent droppings throughout the premises; ongoing cockroach infestation in the premises; mouse droppings in multiple food areas; heavy rodent and cockroach activity; the sale of food with the claim ‘nut free’ or ‘gluten free’ in a premises that contains tree nuts and peanuts; premises not kept in a sufficiently hygienic condition; evidence of altering the ‘use by’ dates and batch numbers on food and providing false labels on food; walls of an establishment in a poor state of structural repair with extensive dampness, mould growth and flaking; food handlers not supervised or instructed and/or trained in food hygiene matters commensurate with their work activity; failure to establish, maintain and provide evidence of a food safety culture. 

 

Dr Pamela Byrne, Chief Executive, FSAI, said that the high number of Closure Orders needing to be served in April is alarming. 

“Twenty one Closure Orders served in one month is the highest number since November 2019, when the same number were also issued. Amongst the reasons for the Closure Orders in April, a lack of adequate procedures to control pests was frequently cited. This resulted in evidence of widespread mice and cockroach activity, which leads to a serious risk of food being contaminated and poses a grave and immediate danger to public health. Food businesses must ensure that their food business is properly pest proofed, and that they take effective action if there is a pest infestation. Each month, we issue the list of Enforcement Orders as a deterrent, but it seems that last month, food safety fell off the list of priorities for quite a number of food businesses. Consumers have a right to safe food and food safety must always be a top priority for food businesses. There are no excuses. Food safety is a legal requirement for all food businesses.”  

Also, during the month of April, one prosecution was taken by the HSE in relation to:  

• Kenmare Brewhouse Ltd, The Square, Kenmare, Co. Kerry  

Details of the food businesses served with Enforcement Orders are published on the FSAI’s website at www.fsai.ie. Closure Orders and Improvement Orders will remain listed in the enforcement reports on the website for a period of three months from the date of when a premises is adjudged to have corrected its food safety issue, with Prohibition Orders being listed for a period of one month from the date the Order was lifted.  

A Fifth of the Nation Admit to Crossing Continents to Cheer on Favourite Team or Athlete

•  Six in every 10 Irish people believe their support and cheer positively impacts performance
•  70% of people feel a huge sense of pride for Ireland’s sporting heroes
•  Beating the All Blacks in 2016, Italia 90 and the gold winning moments of Paralympians, swimmer Ellen Keane and sprinter Jason Smyth were highlighted as the most “cheer-tastic” moments.

Ireland remains a nation of fanatical sports fans with a fifth of Irish people admitting to crossing continents to cheer on their favourite team or athlete. Revealed new research* released today to mark the announcement of Nestlé Cereals as the official ‘Breakfast Partner’ of the 2024 Irish Paralympic Team. The aim of the partnership is to encourage the nation to “Bring the Cheer” and support the team at the upcoming games in Paris (August 28th to September 8th).

Furthermore, the survey revealed Irish people truly value the power of this support for their team/athlete with six in every 10 believing their support and cheer has a positive impact on overall performance. Seven out of every 10 respondents also cited their sense of pride at seeing an Irish athlete on the world stage!

Leaning into this uniquely Irish sense of pride for our sporting heroes, Nestlé Cereals will roll out special cereal boxes, featuring Nestlé Cereals Ireland Ambassadors para-table tennis champion Colin Judge and para-cyclist Richael Timothy. Packs will also offer fans the opportunity to win a chance to bring the cheer and support the athletes at the Games in Paris. In a first for the brand, boxes will also carry a message of support to the team ‘as Gaeilge’.

The determination of Irish fans to “bring the cheer” no matter what is also evident, with more than a quarter of Irish people attending every game with four in 10 claiming to tune in to watch and cheer from afar. Those aged 18-34 were found to enjoy a watch party with family and friends, citing a greater sense of connection by supporting in this way.

Gold winning exploits of Paralympians, swimmer Ellen Keane and sprinter Jason Smyth were highlighted among the most “cheer-tastic” moments alongside beating the All Blacks in 2016 and Italia 90.

The findings also showed that women (65%) enjoy a greater sense of feeling valued through being supported while for men, personal support is the greatest contributor to building their own self-confidence. The power of support was also cited as a key factor in one’s ability to go that “extra mile” for more than half, with the same amount saying it provided a much-needed energy boost.  Partners (44%) topped the poll as the greatest supporters followed my mums (16%) and friends (12%) taking bronze.

Jennifer Walsh, Country Manager, Nestlé Cereals said “We are delighted to come on board as the official “Breakfast Partner” for the Irish Paralympic Team and to play our part in supporting them as they prepare for one of the biggest events in the global sporting calendar.

“It is undoubtedly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity with our athletes putting it all on the line, to represent our country at this year’s event. They have spent months and years preparing for this, putting in thousands of hours of dedication behind the scenes, and have endured many challenges along the way, battling to overcome obstacles and all so they can represent their country at the highest level and to the best of their ability. Moments like this remind one of the importance of support and what a crucial role it plays and how it can make such a positive difference.

“It is clear from the research that we as a nation understand the positive impact of support and for this year’s games, we are encouraging the country to really get behind our athletes. It is important that we collectively lend our support, “Bring the Cheer” and show them that we are all there with them as they compete on the biggest stage. If you haven’t yet made your plans, start doing so now and “Bring the Cheer” as we prepare for Paris 2024 with Team Ireland.”

Stephen McNamara, CEO Paralympics Ireland said “We are delighted to announce this sponsorship with Nestlé Cereals. Having our Para Athletes represented on Nestlé’s instantly recognisable cereal boxes around the country provides fantastic visibility for disability sport. Our athletes competed in Tokyo in front of empty stands away from friends, family and supporters. This partnership will help to “Bring the Cheer” and provide the extra energy that they need to deliver on the biggest stage this summer.”

Rio joins the Rovers in celebration of Partnership that goes Beyond the Ball

The partnership of Rio Ferdinand Foundation (RFF) and the International Fund for Ireland (IFI) teamed up to deliver a match day experience hosted at Sligo Rovers, The Showgrounds on Wednesday.

Organised by the Rio Ferdinand Foundation, the ‘Beyond the Ball’ matchday brought together young people aged between 16 and 18 from community projects across the southern border counties and Northern Ireland as part of a major partnership approach to peacebuilding and cross-community reconciliation funded through the IFI’s Communities in Partnership Programme (CiPP).

The Beyond the Ball programme is one of the IFI’s most significant funding allocations in recent years with an overall investment of €628,850 / £541,713, which included an initial pilot scheme in 2023.

This new phase was officially launched in August 2023, with the partnership working across Donegal, Leitrim, Sligo, Antrim, Tyrone, Fermanagh, and Derry/Londonderry, connecting young people from cross-community backgrounds through sport, sharing experiences, and building trust and confidence between communities at a grassroots level. The programme is expected to launch in Louth in April this year.

At the heart of the partnership is a desire to connect young people, broaden their horizons and build their confidence and leadership skills to empower community leaders. Since February 2023, over 300 young people have participated in the Beyond the Ball programme, 70 completed accredited training courses and qualifications in youth leadership and equality and diversity through the Open College Network and community sports leaders’ qualifications through Sports Leaders UK, with an additional 75 due to undertake qualifications. A further 308 people attended cross-border consultations, events, and tournaments.

The successful event, which welcomed young people from Belfast, Omagh, Derry/Londonderry and Donegal as well as locally from Sligo and Leitrim means that the ‘Beyond the Ball’ project has engaged with more than 1,000 young people across a range of initiatives and events with plans to maximise this participation and interest to deliver real change for young people and their local communities going forward.

Commenting on Beyond the Ball, the England and Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand said:

“I think we all recognise that supporting young people to achieve their potential regardless of background is the key to building a better future. The Rio Ferdinand Foundation is committed to delivering projects that give young people the confidence, skills, and platform to achieve that aim by offering positive activities, training, and opportunities to build networks, relationships, and careers across Ireland and the UK.

“This partnership with the International Fund for Ireland brings together young people, communities and strategic partners to work together and shape new initiatives, relationships and networks across the border counties of Ireland, Northern Ireland and Great Britain by linking up with our projects in Manchester and London – and it’s been a privilege to spend time here in Sligo and the west of Ireland to meet young people, families and stakeholders from all parts of Ireland to see what they are achieving within the project.

“I look forward to seeing the Beyond The Ball project develop in the coming months and to seeing what we can achieve working together to enable these young people to reach their potential in Ireland and Northern Ireland by sharing experiences and learning with young people in England.”

Paddy Harte, Chair of the International Fund for Ireland, said:

“The IFI’s ‘Communities in Partnership Programme’, which funds the ‘Beyond the Ball’ Project is focused on embedding lasting relationships on a cross-border and cross community basis.

“This collaboration between the IFI and RFF aims to put young people at the heart of their communities, giving them a voice and facilitating opportunities to inform and influence what happens in their communities.

“Football is the vehicle for this project, facilitating opportunities to develop relationships between young people and their peers who they may not otherwise meet whilst accessing a range of vital training and development programmes and qualifications aimed at offering them a path to a more prosperous future.”

The ‘Beyond the Ball’ match day is representative of a collaborative ambition to develop lasting cross-border relationships, providing opportunities for young people from border communities to come together, learn new skills and be supported to succeed. Cheering on the teams were a host of dignitaries from Ireland and Northern Ireland.

The match day celebrated the partnership between the Rio Ferdinand Foundation and the International Fund for Ireland and its work alongside stakeholders including Garda Síochána and PSNI to build relationships and promote community safety. The partnership contributes to peacebuilding, bringing young people together to collaborate over shared experiences, undertake leadership training and accreditation, and explore pathways that shape their futures.

Leading the teams out on the day were ‘Team Managers’ England and Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand and Westlife front man and Sligo Rovers F.C. Superfan Shane Filan.

Thirty-two young people walked out on the pitch on matchday, unsuspecting of the day’s magnitude, with organisers keeping the details of attendees firmly under wraps. A further three-hundred young people, their families, and youth workers from eight counties across the island of Ireland were transported to The Showgrounds to support from the stands and take part in activities in the grounds during the day.

United through their love of the beautiful game, the ‘Beyond the Ball’ matchday was supported by former Northern Ireland International Footballer Gerry Armstrong, and equality and social justice advocate Paul Canoville the first black player to play for Chelsea FC.

Female players also joined a women’s empowerment session with TV personality Kate Ferdinand, Linfield Captain Ashley Hutton, and home team Sligo Rovers Emma Hansberry. IFI Board member Bernie Butler joined the session alongside local Sligo current affairs journalist Jessica Farry.

The IFI was set up by the British and Irish Governments as an independent international organisation in 1986, delivering a range of peace and reconciliation initiatives across the southern border counties and Northern Ireland.

Minister of State Dara Calleary TD, who attended the event on behalf of the Irish Government said,

“The IFI has played a key role over many years in building a strong level of trust at the grassroots level, setting the foundations which allow communities to take risks for peace. The IFI’s status as an independent international organisation, its reputation for neutrality and its long-established links within communities ensure that it maintains a unique position of trust within hard-to-reach communities. The Irish Government is proud to support the IFI’s Connecting Communities strategy and has agreed to provide €20m for the period from 2021– 2025. It is a worthwhile investment in peacebuilding.

“A key element of this partnership with the Rio Ferdinand Foundation, is the focus on relationship building and exploring shared identities and learning on an East-West, as well as North-South basis. This means we are exploring shared identities between our two islands through football, which we see today is a powerful and inspiring platform to bring young people and their communities together.”

The ‘Beyond the Ball’ match day builds on the Rio Ferdinand Foundation’s work on the Island of Ireland since 2016 to rebalance equality, empower young people and deliver positive social change. The partnership with the International Fund for Ireland is pivotal in the Foundation’s ambition to level the playing field, amplify the voices of young people from underrepresented communities and create opportunities that unleash their potential.

JetBlue Flights from Dublin to New York and Boston Taking Off Today

Daily Nonstop Seasonal Service from Dublin to New York and Boston Introduces the Airline’s Award-Winning Mint® and Core Product Offerings to its Fourth Transatlantic Market

To Celebrate Launches, Limited Roundtrip Fares Starting at $399, $499, €399, €499 in Core and $1999, $2499, €1999, €2499 in Mint Available

JetBlue (Nasdaq: JBLU) announced it has expanded its transatlantic offerings with new, nonstop flights taking off from Dublin to New York and Boston today. Daily summer-seasonal service to New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) from Dublin Airport (DUB) will operate through September 30, 2024, and reinforce JetBlue’s role as a disruptor in the industry as it brings low fares and great service to these popular routes.

JetBlue has disrupted the transatlantic market since it first launched flights to London in 2021 offering a fresh, innovative, customer-focused experience without the historically high fares of legacy carriers. Since then, JetBlue has expanded its portfolio to include Paris, Amsterdam and now Dublin, and will continue its growth in Europe with seasonal flights to Edinburgh and additional frequencies to Paris later this spring.

“JetBlue’s entrance into Dublin is set to introduce a new era of low fares and great service between Ireland and the Northeast,” said Joanna Geraghty, chief executive officer, JetBlue. “We look forward to introducing our award-winning Mint and Core service to business and leisure customers travelling to and from Dublin just in time for Saint Patrick’s Day and the summer holiday season.”

Travellers from the U.S. account for nearly 20% of all overseas tourism to Ireland, and Dublin has been among the most requested European destinations previously not served by JetBlue. With a strong, historic connection between Ireland and the United States – especially JetBlue’s Northeast focus cities, New York and Boston – that draws millions of travellers each way annually, JetBlue continues to deliver on its commitment to bring customers to the places they most want to go. Customers travelling from Dublin can conveniently connect to other destinations JetBlue serves from New York and Boston across the U.S., the Caribbean, and Latin America.

“The arrival of JetBlue to Dublin Airport is very good news for both passengers and Ireland and these new direct routes between Dublin and New York and Boston are going to prove really popular. Demand for transatlantic travel has never been higher, with stronger than ever business links continuing to grow between Ireland and the US. These new services from JetBlue will mean greater choice and value for our passengers and Dublin Airport looks forward to working with JetBlue to ensure they are a flying success,” said Gary McLean, Managing Director, Dublin Airport.

Commenting further, Alice Mansergh, Chief Executive Designate of Tourism Ireland, said “The launch of JetBlue’s new flights from New York and Boston is really good news for tourism from the all-important US market to Ireland. As an island destination, we know there’s a proven correlation between direct, convenient access and growth in inbound tourism, so these new flights will certainly help boost visitor numbers and the overall economic value of tourism from the United States in 2024 and beyond. Tourism Ireland is committed to working with JetBlue, Dublin Airport and our other key partners, to drive demand for these transatlantic flights, and all other services to Ireland, to help maintain our vital network of routes and services.”

With this new destination, JetBlue is once again disrupting transatlantic service with an elevated experience specially designed for its Airbus A321neo with Mint aircraft. The airline’s Mint premium experience offers customers fully lie-flat private suites with a sliding door and a custom-designed seat cushion developed by innovative mattress company Tuft & Needle. In addition to countless intuitive design touches, every customer will feel at home in the air with the newly launched Mint amenity kits. Tucked into a stylish and reusable foldable backpack designed by Caraa, the new amenity kits contain popular wellness products from New York-based brands Dr. Denis Gross and Plus Ultra, in addition to Tuft & Needle sleep amenities. Mint customers enjoy delicious, restaurant-style small plates curated by Delicious Hospitality Group’s (DHG) popular New York City restaurants Legacy Records, Charlie Bird and Pasquale Jones. Their inventive culinary style and hospitality expertise brings the best inflight dining experience to Mint tray tables.

JetBlue’s industry-leading core experience offers a new level of service to customers who generally fly “coach” but still want a great experience at an attractive fare. Core customers enjoy a boutique-style experience no matter where they sit with the most legroom in coach as well as innovative, fresh meals crafted specifically for the A321neo with Mint aircraft. JetBlue worked with NYC-based culinary partner DIG to design an innovative and high-quality menu that more closely aligns with the beloved culinary experience on JetBlue’s A321 Long Range transatlantic routes. Upon launch, options for core customers will include crepes with smoked turkey, brie and caramelised onion jam; herb and cheese frittata; pesto pasta salad with grilled chicken; and sesame noodles with ginger garlic tofu, carrots and daikon.

All customers stay connected throughout the flight with fast, free and unlimited high-speed Fly-Fi and have access to a wide selection of entertainment, including exclusive content from Peacock. To honour the new destination, JetBlue’s seatback screens will also offer a curated catalogue of Irish entertainment, including films such as Belfast, Once and Brooklyn, and specially-curated audio stories about Ireland from travel storytelling platform Autio. All customers are able to enjoy a multi-screen experience onboard – just like they do at home.

For more details on JetBlue’s transatlantic service, visit: https://www.jetblue.com/flying-with-us/uk-and-europe.

Hoteliers Call for Increased Government Funding for Sustainability Irish Hotels Federation 86th Annual Conference

The Irish Hotels Federation (IHF) has called on the Government to provide additional, ring-fenced funding for carbon reduction initiatives within the Irish hotels sector and wider tourism industry. Delegates at the IHF’s 86^th Annual Conference heard that, while many hotels are making significant progress in embracing sustainability, enormous untapped potential exists within the sector in relation to achieving greater energy efficiency and the adoption of renewable energy solutions.   

  

IHF President Denyse Campbell said: “Environmental sustainability is one of the defining issues of our time and a priority for our sector. What we are hearing on the ground is that there is a strong determination and desire among hoteliers to make significant inroads in reducing their carbon footprint. Given their scale and the structure of operations, hotels are ideally placed to make a substantial contribution toward the country’s national carbon emissions targets. However, in order to realise this goal, higher levels of funding from Government will be required.” 

  

Ms Campbell pointed to Fáilte Ireland’s recently launched Climate Action Programme and partnership with SEAI as a very welcome development and an example of the closer collaboration among industry that will be key to achieving meaningful reductions in carbon across the tourism industry.  

  

“Much more needs to be done, however, in terms of Government funding for tourism sustainability, particularly for retrofitting of existing properties. These projects are highly capital intensive and require considerable investment by hotels. Additional Government supports are therefore vital. We had expected greater certainty in relation to funding plans by now, and this is something we would urge the Government to progress without delay.” 

  

Recent industry research carried out by the IHF, shows that 65% of hotels plan to make additional capital expenditure investment in sustainability across a wide range of initiatives over the next 12 months. Key areas of additional investment include energy efficiency measures (50% of hotels), renewable energy solutions (49%), food waste reduction (79%) and additional water conservation measures (36%). A further 23% of hotels indicated they were actively in the process of exploring investment options to enhance the sustainability of the business. 

Hoteliers Report Drop in Business Sentiment for 2024: Irish Hotels Federation 86th Annual Conference

• Rising business costs cited as the most serious challenge facing hotels in 2024
• 79% of hoteliers concerned about the outlook for the global economy
• Forward bookings for hotels down 4.5% in 2024 compared to this time last year

Stubbornly high business operating costs, coupled with concerns about the economic outlook for the year ahead, are weighing on the minds of hoteliers as they gather today for the Irish Hotels Federation’s (IHF) 86th Annual Conference taking place this year in the Slieve Russell Hotel, County Cavan.

Following a strong performance in 2023, IHF President Denyse Campbell pointed to a more challenging outlook for the Irish hotels sector in the year ahead, with forward bookings underperforming and business sentiment among hoteliers taking a hit. Recent industry research carried out by the IHF shows a drop in levels of optimism across the sector, with only 47% of hoteliers reporting a positive outlook for trading conditions over the next 12 months. This contrasts with 74% who reported a positive outlook at the same time last year.

Hoteliers ranked rising business costs as the most serious challenge facing their business this year, with early forecasts indicating further increases of in excess of 8% in operating costs over the year ahead, significantly outpacing levels of inflation within the wider economy. This follows a period of already unprecedented cost increases over the last two years.

Some 79% of hotels indicated they were concerned about the outlook for the global economy and the potential impact on their business. Forward bookings for the year ahead are now down 4.5% compared to this time last year, with 53% of hotels reporting a net decrease in bookings. Of particular concern is the domestic market along with the UK and rest of Europe. Bookings for North America are holding up, however, which is very welcome given the growing importance of this key market as a source of tourism revenue.

Ms Campbell said: “While it is too early to predict the overall performance for the year, initial indications are concerning and highlight the challenges our industry faces across key markets. This is at a time when consumer finances are under ongoing pressure and businesses are dealing with additional costs and a sharp rise in interest rates. We are also seeing the impact of the Government’s decision to increase tourism VAT, making us an outlier with the third highest rate of VAT in Europe.”

“It is incumbent on the Government to do more to tackle the very high cost of doing business within the Irish economy. This is a major challenge for tourism and hospitality, our largest indigenous employer. Increasing costs are continuing to erode our competitiveness as a destination and jeopardise the sustainability of our wider industry – a vital part of the economy supporting some 270,000 livelihoods, 70% of which are outside of Dublin. More needs to be done to address Government-controlled costs, particularly for labour intensive industries such as tourism.”

Commenting on levels of ongoing investment within the sector Ms Campbell noted that, having invested significantly in their properties over the last two years, many hotels are continuing to prioritise investment in maintaining a consistently high-quality offering for visitors – a cornerstone of our competitiveness. Some 78% of hoteliers indicate they are planning refurbishment projects and increased capital investment over the next 12 months, including refurbishment of guest bedrooms (56%), refurbishment of common areas (47%) and guest technology (30%).