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Ireland Non-Compliant In 2022 With EU Emissions For Ammonia.

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:

  1. ammonia.
  2. non-methane volatile organic compounds.
  3. sulphur dioxide.
  4. nitrogen oxides.
  5. fine particulate matter.

Agriculture accounts for over 99% of ammonia emissions in Ireland.
A decrease of I% in ammonia emissions was driven by:

  1. lower pig and poultry populations (down 5.9% and 2% respectively)
  2. increased use of low emission slurry spreading (59% of all cattle slurry) and
  3. 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.”

May 11th, 2024 | Category: Community News, Education, Environment, Farming, Health | Leave a comment | |

FSAI Recall For Gut Sake Lovely Leitrim Farm Fresh Raw Milk.

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.

May 11th, 2024 | Category: Community News, Health | Leave a comment | |

Review Into Emergency Department For Mid-West Must Urgently Proceed.

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.

May 9th, 2024 | Category: Community News, Health, Politics | Leave a comment | |

21 Closure Orders Served On Food Businesses 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 (Ten of which hold Dublin addresses) were served under the FSAI Act, 1998, on:

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

  1. Chicking (restaurant/café), Unit 3, O’Boyce’s Corner, Port Road, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal.
  2. 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.
  3. Café Brazil (retailer), 63 Thomas Street, Dublin 8.
  4. 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.
  5. Oriental Pantry (retailer), 22-23 Moore Street, Dublin 1.
  6. 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.

Full Enforcement Reports can be found HERE

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.

May 9th, 2024 | Category: Community News, Food, Health | Leave a comment | |

Failure To Fix Tipperary Faulty Septic Tanks A Risk To Human Health.

Failure to fix faulty septic tanks is a risk to human health and the environment, and can’t continue, says Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

  • Local authorities completed 1,189 septic tank inspections in 2023, targeted near rivers and household drinking water wells, which are most at risk of contamination by faulty septic tanks.
  • 45% of septic tanks failed inspection. It is critically important that householders fix septic tanks that fail inspection as such failures have the potential to be a risk to human health and the environment.
  • Enforcement by local authorities is inconsistent and needs to improve, with Waterford, Roscommon and Kilkenny having the lowest rates of septic tank failures resolved.
  • Grants for fixing septic tanks have increased from €5,000 to €12,000.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today released the report on Domestic Waste Water Treatment System Inspections 2023, which details the findings of septic tank inspections completed by local authorities in 2023. Of the 1,189 septic tanks inspected, 45% (532) failed because they were not built or maintained properly.

Water Service Authority.Inspections Required 2023.Inspections Completed 2023.Systems Failing between 2013 & 2023. Percent Fixed 2023.
Co. Tipperary4040169only 72%

Comparisons: ‘Percent Fixed’ for Co. Louth was 98%, Co. Wicklow 97%, Fingal 97%, South Dublin 94%, Co. Longford 88%, Co. Cavan 89%, Co. Limerick 84% and Co. Cork 90%, leaving Co. Tipperary (shown on the above table) only moderately rated, when it comes to percentage of failures fixed.

Domestic waste water treatment systems, mostly septic tanks, are used by householders to treat sewage. There are nearly half a million systems in Ireland. The EPA’s National Inspection Plan 2022-2026 has identified the number of inspections that need to be completed, particularly near rivers and in areas where septic tanks are co-located with household drinking water wells. Local authorities are required to complete a minimum of 1,200 inspections annually as part of their implementation of the plan.

Commenting on the report, Dr Tom Ryan, Director of the EPA’s Office of Environmental Enforcement said, “Faulty septic tanks are a risk to human health and the environment and must be fixed. The EPA, through the National Inspection Plan, has identified rivers and areas where household drinking water wells are most at risk of contamination by faulty septic tanks. Local authority inspections are targeted in these areas. It is critical that householders protect their family’s health and the environment by fixing the problems identified, drawing on the enhanced grants now available.”

Where septic tanks fail inspection, local authorities issue advisory notices to householders setting out what is required to fix the problem. The EPA report found that there were 576 cases where issues notified to householders over two years previously had still not been addressed.

The grant schemes for remediation of septic tanks were changed at the start of 2024 to increase the amount from €5,000 to €12,000 and remove the requirement to have registered the septic tank in 2013. This presents a significant opportunity for householders to fix their septic tanks and resolve open advisory notices.

Mr Noel Byrne, EPA Programme Manager said, “It is unacceptable that the number septic tanks left un-fixed for more than two years continues to rise. Greater enforcement is needed by local authorities to ensure failed systems are fixed. Where faulty septic tanks are not being fixed, particularly given the availability of the enhanced grant scheme, local authorities need to use their enforcement powers to protect the environment and public health.”

The National Inspection Plan for Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems 2022 – 2026 was published by the EPA in 2021. The plan requires a minimum of 1,200 inspections from 2023 onwards. There was a shortfall in inspections by five local authorities in 2023 and these need to be completed in 2024. The EPA issued legal directions to make up for shortfalls in inspections by Waterford County Council in 2022 and to Galway County Council in 2023.

Another question for ‘Canvassing Councillors’ and ‘Would Be MEP’s’ calling to your door.

May 9th, 2024 | Category: Community News, Environment, Health, Law | Leave a comment | |
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