On Saturday last, May 11th, 2024, the Regional Order of Malta Cadet Competitions for the Southern Region were hosted here in Thurles.
Pictured Above: The Thomas Bourke Order of Malta cadets and leaders with their trophies and medals following a successful day of competitions.
Cadets from all over the region travelled to the Tipperary town, to take part in a wide range of competitions, including First Aid, Cardiopulmonary resuscitation(CPR), Home Nursing and Foot-Drill. The Thurles cadets had been training diligently over the past number of months in preparation for these competitions.
All this hard work paid off, as the Thurles cadets were successful in all the categories that they entered, coming in first place in all of them.
Training is now underway for the All-Ireland Competitions, which will be held in Fermanagh in July of this year.
Ammonia emissions down 1% in 2022, however further reductions needed to protect health and the environment.
Ireland’s ammonia emissions decreased by 1% in 2022. Despite this, Ireland remains non-compliant in 2022 with our EU Emissions Reduction commitment for ammonia.
The decrease in ammonia emissions reflects lower pig and poultry numbers, an increase in low emission slurry spreading and use of inhibited urea fertiliser on farms.
Compliance with the EU Emissions Reduction commitment for ammonia is only possible with full implementation of all Government policies and measures.
In contrast, Ireland is compliant in 2022 with the EU Emissions Reduction commitment for the following four air pollutants: non-methane volatile organic compounds, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and fine particulate matter. Reductions in 2022 were driven by less fossil fuel use in power generation and heating in homes and businesses.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), yesterday, published its 2022 assessment of five key air pollutants which impact air quality, health and the environment. The pollutants are:
ammonia.
non-methane volatile organic compounds.
sulphur dioxide.
nitrogen oxides.
fine particulate matter.
Agriculture accounts for over 99% of ammonia emissions in Ireland. A decrease of I% in ammonia emissions was driven by:
lower pig and poultry populations (down 5.9% and 2% respectively)
increased use of low emission slurry spreading (59% of all cattle slurry) and
a 52% increase in inhibited urea fertiliser.
Commenting on the findings Dr Eimear Cotter, Director of the EPA’s Office of Evidence and Assessment said: “High ammonia emissions impacts local air quality and human health and causes significant environmental damage to valuable ecosystems . Ireland’s ammonia emissions have exceeded the EU Emission Reduction commitments in ten of the past 11 years.”
She added. “Encouragingly, good farm practices are beginning to have a positive impact on emissions. For example, the use of low emissions slurry spreading for cattle slurry in 2022 avoided the release of 6,000 tonnes of ammonia to the atmosphere. However, we have much further to go. Faster and sustained implementation of all ammonia reduction measures set out in Government plans and policies are needed if we are to achieve compliance and protect our air quality.”
Ireland is in compliance with EU Emission Reduction commitments for the other air pollutants with decreases recorded for these pollutants in 2022. Sulphur dioxide decreased by 27%; fine particulate matter by 12%; nitrogen oxide by 4% and non-methane volatile organic compounds by 1%.
Commenting on these findings Mr Tomás Murray, Senior Manager said: “This assessment shows positive results in terms of a reduction in emissions of non-methane volatile organic compounds, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and fine particulate matter in 2022. These reductions are driven by less coal and fuel oil used in power generation and also less fossil fuels used in homes and businesses. Our data are clear: reducing fossil fuel use benefits both our climate and air quality and increasing the pace of this reduction will be better for our health and environment.”
Food Safety Authority Of Ireland (FSAI) Recall For Gut Sake Lovely Leitrim Farm Fresh Raw Milk due to hygiene concerns.
Alert Summary dated Friday, 10 May 2024. Category 1: For Action. Alert Notification: 2024.18. Product Identification: For Gut Sake Lovely Leitrim Farm Fresh Raw Milk; pack size: 1 litre. Batch Code: All batch codes; all expiry dates. Country Of Origin: Ireland.
Message: For Gut Sake is recalling all batches of its Lovely Leitrim Farm Fresh Raw Milk due to concerns with hygiene controls during production. Recall notices will be displayed at point-of-sale.
Action Required: Manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, caterers & retailers: Retailers are requested to remove all batches from sale and display recall notices at point-of-sale.
Consumers: Consumers are advised not to consume the implicated batches.
Deputy Michael McNamara, (Independent Clare TD and candidate for Ireland South in the upcoming European Elections), has stated that a review into a second Emergency Department for the Mid-West region must now proceed without any further delay.
The announcement today by Minister for Health, Mr Stephen Donnelly, of a review of the case for a second Emergency Department for the Mid-West Region, (Latter which includes the area of north Co. Tipperary), must not only proceed without delay, but its conclusions must be followed up on speedily, according to the Independent Co. Clare Deputy.
Deputy McNamara was reacting to the news today that HIQA will lead the review into urgent and emergency care capacity in the region to determine whether a second Emergency Department (ED) is required, in light of a big increase in the population in recent years and ongoing pressures at University Hospital Limerick (UHL).
“This will be welcome news for everybody in the Mid-West, where a lot of people are afraid to avail of an essential government service at UHL because of the continuous disaster stories emanating from there,” he said.
Deputy McNamara added, “The staff are under tremendous pressure, and I hope this review is quick and its conclusions are followed up speedily.We have a tendency in Ireland to announce reviews to get out of political pressure. I sincerely hope this not the case here,” he concluded.
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 (Ten of which hold Dublin addresses) were served under the FSAI Act, 1998, on:
Ginger Lillies Chinese Restaurant, 18 Mulgrave Street, Limerick.
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(Five of which hold Dublin Addresses)were 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 2024 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. [ Outcome: €500.00 fine imposed and €1600.00 awarded to HSE. ]
Details of the food businesses served with Enforcement Orders are published on the FSAI’s website. 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.
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