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FSAI Update On Favourit Curry Powder Products.

Possible presence of peanut in all batches of specific 500g and certain 50g and 40g Favourit curry powder products.

Alert Summary dated Friday, 18th October 2024.

Allergy Alert Notification: 2024.A37 (update 4).
Allergen: Peanut.
Product Identification: Favourit Medium Curry Powder pack size: 500g; Favourit Mild Curry Powder. pack size: 500g; Favourit Hot Curry Powder; pack size: 500g; Favourit Medium Curry Powder pack size: 40g; Favourit Hot Curry Powder; pack size: 50g.

Batch Code: All batch codes and all best before dates.

Message: Further to FSAI food allergen alerts 2024.A37, 2024.A37 (update 1); 2024.A37 (update 2); 2024.A37 (update 3); and 2024.A37 (update 4); and 2024.A37 (Update 5), all batches of Favourit Medium Curry Powder, Mild Curry Powder and Hot Curry Powder (500g) Favourit Medium Curry Powder pack size (40g) and Favourit Hot Curry Powder pack size (50g), may contain peanut.
Peanut is not declared in the list of ingredients. This may make these products unsafe for consumers who are allergic to or intolerant of peanut.

Thurles Veterinary Practise Set For Acquisition By UK Chain VetPartners.

Two veterinary practises, located at Ikerrin Road, Thurles, Co. Tipperary and at Canal Road, Johnstown, Co, Kilkenny, are both set to be acquired by the United Kingdom’s veterinary chain, VetPartners. Both these successful practises trade as Spa View Veterinary Clinic.

VetPartners is an indirect subsidiary of VetPartners Limited, a UK-based veterinary services provider, employing over 11,000 employees, on 650 sites across Italy, France, Germany, Spain, Portugal and Ireland. They have diversified, since first being established in 2015; to include an animal veterinary nursing school, an equine nursing school, laboratories, a research dairy, a locum agency and pet crematoriums.

The first stage of the proposed acquisition of the two Spa View Veterinary Clinics, by VetPartners, was notified to the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) on Wednesday October 16th last.
Back in August 2024, VetPartners also notified the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, of their intention to acquire Midleton Veterinary Hospital, Knockgriffin Industrial Park, Co. Cork.

Here in Thurles, Co Tipperary, Spa View Veterinary Clinic, (situated on Ikerrin Road, close to the junction with Kickham Street), first constructed their offices almost 30 years ago, (1995), having already opened their Co. Kilkenny practise five years earlier.

FSAI Warn Of A Number Of Products Containing Undeclared Peanut.

Possible presence of peanut in an additional Favourit product and in additional batches of Favourit Cajun Seasoning.

Alert Summary dated Thursday, October 17th, 2024.

Allergy Alert Notification: 2024.A37 (Update 3)
Allergen: Peanut
Product Identification: Favourit Cajun Seasoning; pack size: 40g
Favourit Fajita Seasoning: pack size: 50g
Batch Code: All batch codes and best before dates purchased before 3rd October 2024.

Message: Further to food allergen alerts 2024.A37, 2024.A37 (Update 1) and 2024.A37 (Update 2) all batches and best before dates of Favourit Cajun Seasoning and Favourit Fajita Seasoning may contain peanut. Peanut is not declared in the list of ingredients. This may make the batches unsafe for consumers who are allergic to or intolerant of peanut.

Presence of peanut in additional product and additional batches of Dunnes Stores spice products.

Alert Summary dated Thursday, October 17th, 2024.

Allergy Alert Notification: 2024.A36 (update 1)
Allergen: Peanut
Product Identification: Dunnes Stores Black Mustard Seeds, pack size: 50g;
Dunnes Stores Mild Curry Powder, pack size: 36g;
Dunnes Stores Cajun Seasoning, pack size: 35g;
Dunnes Stores Medium Madras Curry Powder, pack size: 36g;
Dunnes Stores Hot Curry Powder, pack size: 36g.
Batch Code: All batch codes; all best before dates up to and including end July 2026.

Message: Further to FSAI food allergen alert 2024.A36,
Dunnes Stores is recalling additional batches and an additional spice product (Dunnes Stores Black Mustard Seeds). The implicated batches of Dunnes Stores spice products listed above contain peanut residue in the mustard powder. Peanut is not declared in the list of ingredients. This may make the implicated batches unsafe for consumers who are allergic to or intolerant of peanut.

Legislation To Streamline, Strengthen & Modernise Gambling Regulation.

  • Legislation will Establish the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland.
  • Introduce a modern and robust licencing and regulatory framework for both in-person and online gambling.
  • Establish a National Gambling Exclusion Register.
  • Introduce tight restrictions on gambling advertising.
  • Introduce a Social Impact Fund to support educational measures and problem gambling treatment activities.
  • CEO Designate of the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland has been progressing important preparatory work.

The Gambling Regulation Bill, 2022, has passed through both Houses of the Oireachtas. The legislation sets out the framework and legislative basis for the establishment of a new, independent statutory body, Údarás Rialála Cearrbhachais na hÉireann, (the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland) and for a modern and robust licencing and regulatory framework for both in-person and online gambling.

Painting by Italian artist Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio (1571-1610), “The Cardsharps.” (painted c.1594).

The Bill provides for the establishment and operation of the National Gambling Exclusion Register and introduces tight restrictions on the advertisement of gambling activities.
It also provides for the creation of a Social Impact Fund to support awareness–raising and educational measures and to support problem gambling treatment activities.

With regard to black market operators, the Bill contains a suite of measures to address illegal or criminal gambling activity and includes explicit prohibitions on illegal activity or practices, some of which could result in significant custodial sentences.

Once the Bill is enacted, the GRAI will be established with a seven-person authority. A Programme Board has been established in the Department of Justice to ensure that the legislation and the operational preparations are progressed in parallel, allowing the Authority to commence operations, on a phased basis, as soon as possible, after enactment and appointment of the Authority members.
Ms Anne Marie Caulfield has been appointed to the role of CEO Designate of the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland and has been progressing important preparatory work.

As part of Budget 2025 announced on October 1st last, the GRAI will receive €9.1m in 2025, including €4m of ICT capital investment.

Establishment Of A New Judicial Appointments Commission Announced.

  • New independent Commission will select and recommend candidates for all judicial offices in Ireland and in EU and international courts.
  • A new application and interview process will apply to all judicial vacancies.
  • Candidates will be required to undergo continuous professional development.

Legislation providing for the establishment of the Judicial Appointments Commission on 1st January 2025 has commenced today. This marks the most substantial reform in the way judges are chosen for appointment in almost thirty years.
The Judicial Appointments Commission Act establishes a new, independent Judicial Appointments Commission to select and recommend persons for all judicial offices in Ireland; in the EU and International courts.

The new reforms provided for, include:

  • Reduction in the number of recommendations: 3 candidates to be recommended for a vacancy and an additional 2 recommendations for a second and additional vacancies. For example, this would mean 7 recommendations for 3 vacancies.
  • Only candidates recommended by the Judicial Appointments Commission to be nominated by the Government for appointment by the President.
  • All judicial posts, whether a first appointment or a promotion from another court will be governed by the procedure.
  • Interviews: For the first time, all nominees will have been interviewed.
  • Diversity: The Commission will have the objective that membership of the judiciary should reflect the diversity of the population as a whole.
  • Continuous Professional Development: Candidates will be required to show they have undertaken judicial training or continuous professional development.
  • The Judicial Appointments Commission will set out best practice selection procedures including interviews and the knowledge, skills and attributes required of judges.

Commission Membership.
Membership of the Judicial Appointments Commission, which will be chaired by Chief Justice, The Hon. Mr. Justice Donal O’Donnell and will include:-
The Hon. Ms. Justice Caroline Costello, (President of the Court of Appeal).
Attorney General Rossa Fanning (SC).
The Hon. Ms. Justice Mary Rose Gearty, (High Court).
Judge Alan Mitchell, (District Court).
Ms. Bernie Gray, (Human Resources and Governance expert).
Dr. Eleanor O’Higgins, (Adjunct Associate Professor, College of Business, University College Dublin and Associate, London School of Economics and Political Science).
Dr. Rónán Kennedy, (Associate Professor in the School of Law, University of Galway).
Dr. Terrence McWade, (Former CEO of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland).

The Judicial Appointments Commission will be established from January 1st, 2025.