The Food Safety Authority of Ireland(FSAI) today confirmed that a total of 16 Enforcement Orders were served on food businesses during the month of October 2024, 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.
Of these, Two Tipperary food businesses were issued with enforcement orders. All 16 Enforcement Orders were issued by Environmental Health Officers in the Health Service Executive (HSE); veterinary inspectors in the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and sea-fisheries protection officers in the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority.
The first Tipperary ‘Closure Order’ was served under the FSAI Act, 1998 on Longfield Academy(Ltd.)(Closed area: Main kitchen used for reheating food), Rockview, Deerpark Rd, Cashel, Co. Tipperary. Latter closure was due to ‘rodent infestation’.
The second ‘Closure Order’ was served under the European Union (Official Controls in Relation to Food Legislation) Regulations, 2020 on Welcome Home(Retailer), No. 2 Kickham Place, Tipperary Town, Co. Tipperary. Latter was closed due to evidence of rodent faeces; lack of adequate cleaning in all parts of the premises including equipment used and maintenance of same.
Overall the reasons for the 16 Enforcement Orders in October included: rat infestation; significant build-up of rodent droppings; presence of fruit and drain flies; live maggots on old food residue; extensive rodent droppings; no wash hand basin with hot and cold water for food workers; an inaccessible wash hand basin; a complete lack of cleaning; accumulation of grease and food debris; dirty food contact equipment; lack of adequate food storage and contamination prevention procedures; persistent and historical failure to comply with food law; no evidence of a food safety management system.
Dr Pamela Byrne, (Chief Executive, FSAI), reiterated the need for food businesses to have adequate pest control systems in place; adding that businesses must operate strict food safety procedures at all times and that they need to be especially vigilant during this particularly busy time of year leading up to Christmas. She stated; “Inadequate pest control measures, filthy premises and unsafe food storage are once again the primary reasons for the Enforcement Orders served in October. A high number of the Enforcement Orders were associated with issues related to pests as well as failures to maintain adequate cleaning. These issues are all preventable and food businesses must ensure that they always adhere to a high standard of food safety and hygiene. It is imperative that every food business has a proper pest control system in place and that this is checked very regularly to avoid infestations of rodents and insects. With the busy Christmas period nearly upon us, food businesses must be especially vigilant to ensure compliance with the law and to protect the health of their customers.”
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.
In total seven sites have been identified as National Priorities for enforcement by the EPA in Q3 2024.
Seven Sites were identified as National Priority Sites in Q3 2024; three were from the Food & Drink Sector, two from the Intensive Agriculture Sector, one from the Waste Sector and one from the Anaerobic Digestion Sector.
The most common issues identified at these sites were non-compliant discharges to water and facility management.
A site’s presence on the National Priority Sites List indicates a poor level of licence compliance.
Today, the Environmental Protection Agency(EPA) published its National Priority Sites list for quarter three, 2024. The National Priority Sites (NPS) System is a system of performance-based indicators to rank industrial and waste licensed sites in order of priority for enforcement. This allows the EPA to target its enforcement effort at the licensed operators with the poorest environmental performance.
Commenting on the publication, Dr. Tom Ryan, Director, EPA’s Office of Environmental Enforcement said: “Our enforcement activities are risk based and we prioritise sites that are not complying with their licence. As noted in the EPA’s recent State of the Environment Report, a disproportionate number of sites on the National Priority Sites list have been from the dairy processing and waste sectors. This trend continued in Quarter 3 2024. The seven sites on the current list will be the subject of targeted enforcement action to ensure that the environmental issues are addressed, and compliance is restored.”
MsPamela McDonnell, Programme Manager of the EPA’s Industrial Licence Enforcement Programme said: “Three of the sites on the National Priority Sites List, North Cork Co-Op Creameries Limited, Tipperary Co-operative Creamery Limited, and Aurivo Consumer Foods Limited, are milk processing sites. Each of these has featured on the National Priority Sites List previously. Milk and milk effluent pose a significant risk to local streams and rivers if it is not carefully managed. The dairy sector must prioritise investment in environmental controls to prevent the discharge of polluting material. This remains a priority issue for the EPA”.
Other sites on the National Priority Sites list also pose a risk to water quality. The waste sites on the list include a non-hazardous waste transfer station and an anaerobic digestion facility. Both sites failed to provide sufficient infrastructure to protect groundwater and surface water.
Similarly, at the two intensive agriculture sites on the list, poor management of waste and storm water increased the risk of contaminated discharges.
The list of National Priority Sites for Q3 2024 is in Table 1 below:
The North Tipperary/East Clare Community Engagement area has a new Community Policing Unit.
New Community Policing Unit.
Meet the 7 Gardaí from the new Community Policing Unit for North Tipperary/East Clare Community Engagement area.
They will be stationed at Killaloe, Newport, Nenagh, and Roscrea Garda Stations, ensuring a consistent and accessible Garda presence.
Members of the Community Policing Unit will work a structured roster, in line with the Midlands Working Time Agreement 2024, to maximize visibility and engagement opportunities with the public, attending community meetings and maintaining a proactive presence in local schools.
Key objectives for the Community Policing Unit will include addressing crime and anti-social behaviour through problem-solving initiatives developed in partnership with local communities and agencies. Targeted enforcement, as well as focused crime prevention and reduction strategies, will be central to the Unit’s approach, thus supporting a safer and more secure environment for all residents.
Pre-deceased by her husband Michael, son Thomas, sisters Noreen and Theres; Mrs Fox passed away peacefully, while in the presence of her loving family at St John’s Hospital.
Her passing is most deeply regretted, sadly missed and lovingly remembered by her sorrowing family; sons Michael, Emmet and Edward, daughter Simone, sister Frances, brother Laurence, brother-in-law Ailbe, sisters-in-law Ann, Helen, Margaret, Ita, grandchildren Ashleigh, Katelyn, Emma, Michéal, Clodagh, Emily, Rachel and Naomi, son-in-law Alan, daughters-in-law Mandy, Lilian and Hannah, nephews, nieces, extended relatives, neighbours and friends.
For those persons who are unable to attend the funeral service for Mrs Fox, same can be viewed streamed live online. (Note link to follow).
The extended Fox and Long families wish to express their appreciation for your understanding at this difficult time, and have made arrangements for those persons wishing to send messages of condolence, to use the link shown HERE.
Pre-deceased by her parents Vincent and Teresa, son Kevin; Mrs Crudden passed away peacefully at her place of ordinary residence, surrounded by her loving family.
Her passing is most deeply regretted, sadly missed and lovingly remembered by her sorrowing family; Eamon (Annette), Gerard (Stephanie), Sinead (Eddie), and Katie (Sean) and their father Gerry, grandchildren Tasha, Ruby, Adam, Kevin, Mollie, Mia and Gearόid, brothers Mark, Jackie, Paddy and Vincent, sisters Chrissie, Margaret, Mary, Anne, Kate, Bernie, Una, Rita, and Joan, extended relatives, neighbours and friends.
Requiescat in Pace.
Funeral Arrangements.
The earthly remains of Mrs Crudden will repose at her home tomorrow afternoon, Tuesday November 12th, from 1:00pm until 8:00pm, same evening. Her funeral cortège will leave her family residence on Wednesday morning, November 13th, at 10:30am to be received into the Church of the Holy Cross, 24 Knocks Road, Lisnaskea, Enniskillen (BT92 0FL), United Kingdom to further repose for Requiem Mass at 11:00am, followed by interment immediately afterwards in the adjoining graveyard.
For those persons who are unable to attend the funeral service for Mrs Crudden, same can be viewed streamed live online, HERE.
The extended Crudden and Prunty families wish to express their appreciation for your understanding at this difficult time, and have made arrangements for those persons wishing to send messages of condolence, to use the link shown HERE.
Note Please: Family home to remain private to extended family, at all other times please. Family flowers only. Donations in lieu, if desired, to Marie Curie Cancer Care.
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