Thurles Information

Irish Food Safety Authority Welcome Ruling Against Arrabawn Co-Op Soc. Galway.

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) last month, welcomed Judge Miriam Walsh’s ruling at Ballinasloe District Court in a case involving Arrabawn Co-Operative Society Limited, Kilconnell, Ballinasloe, Co. Galway.

The Court ruling convicted and fined Arrabawn Co-Operative Society Limited €40,000 for breaches of food law. Arrabawn, (whose Head Office is based in Stafford Street, Nenagh, Co. Tipperary), agreed to pay the FSAI’s legal costs and a contribution to the investigation costs.

A former quality manager for the company was also convicted and fined €6,500.

The case was brought by the FSAI after receipt of a protected disclosure in August 2020, which resulted in an investigation led by the FSAI, in conjunction with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM). The investigation found that documents had been illegally forged or altered and that these documents were then provided to business customers, third-party auditors, and to FSAI and DAFM authorised officers.

The breaches of food law of which Arrabawn Co-Operative Society Limited pleaded guilty include:

two charges of possession of forged or altered documents relating to testing of pasteurised milk.
possession of forged documents relating to testing and calibration records.
possession of forged documents relating to packaging integrity and water treatment.
failing to ensure that food handlers were adequately supervised and instructed and/or trained in food hygiene matters.
two charges of failing to comply with microbiological criteria for Enterobacteriaceae in pasteurised milk.
supplying inaccurate information concerning the folic acid content of milk.

Dr Pamela Byrne, CEO, FSAI stated:
“This court decision reinforces the legal obligation that all food businesses must abide by food law, which are in place to protect consumers’ health and interests. The law requires that food businesses must provide accurate documentation in relation to the food safety practices in their business and that their teams are properly trained and adequately supervised. Customers must have confidence in their food suppliers, certain in the knowledge that the food they are purchasing is safe and trustworthy.”

The role of the Food Safety Authority of Ireland is to protect consumers and raise compliance through partnership, science and food law enforcement. A statutory, independent and science-based body, the FSAI is dedicated to protecting public health and consumer interests in the area of food safety and hygiene.

Gardaí Seize Cocaine In Clonmel, Co. Tipperary.

This morning, December 7th, 2021, in Clonmel, Co. Tipperary, Gardaí from the District Drugs Unit, the Detective Branch and Regular units conducted a search under warrant, at a house in Clonmel town Co. Tipperary.

Cocaine with an estimated street value of over €2,500 euro was seized during this search operation.

A male in his 20’s was arrested and is currently detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984.

Liberty Square Falls Foul Of Storm Barra.

Liberty Square in Thurles, Co. Tipperary, has suffered some mild damage as a result of current prevailing Storm Barra, with the strong gale and heavy rain, removing one strand of Christmas lighting, west of the junction with Liberty Square and Slievenamon Road, [On the money side].
Council personnel were fast on the scene to remove the electric cabling and lights crossing the roadway.

At least one of the badly staked, newly sown ‘Italian Alder’ (Alnus Cordata), trees on the Square has also bowed its knee to the prevailing south westerly galeforce wind.

Stay indoors and stay safe for the remainder of this evening.

Killer Covid-19 Cases On Irish Mainland Reach 7,248.

The Department of Health has confirmed 5,590 further Covid-19 cases over the past 24 hours, in the Republic of Ireland.

The number of people currently in hospital with the virus stands at 505, a decrease of 31 since yesterday, however, there are 117 Covid patients in intensive care units, up 7 on yesterdays reported figures.

The Taoiseach Mr Micheál Martin has informed the Dáil that tens of thousands of people are not turning up for booster vaccines. In the week beginning November 22nd, some 208,000 vaccine appointments were offered to the public and unbelievably just 80,000 people only met their appointment.

Last week 180,000 booster appointments were available with only 93,000 attending. Currently, some 1,005,656 boosters doses had been successfully given.

Another 1,658 new cases of coronavirus were confirmed in Northern Ireland on today, up from 1,635 on Monday.

Today, there were 317 patients with Covid-19 in northern hospitals, up from 301 on yesterday. Sadly, 5 more Covid-19-related deaths have also been reported in Northern Ireland today.

In New York, the biggest city in the United States, Mayor Mr Bill de Blasio has announced a blanket Covid-19 vaccine mandate for the private sector; beginning from the end of this month.

It is now essential that we continue to listen to science and keep ourselves and our families safe by regularly washing our hands; wearing a mask when appropriate, and cut down on unnecessary social contacts.

Cabinet Approves Nomination For Chairperson Of Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission.

Government agree to nominate Judge Rory MacCabe as a member of and the next chairperson of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission.
Judge MacCabe also nominated by Government for appointment to the High Court
His appointment to GSOC will be made by the President following nomination by the Government and the Oireachtas. Judge Rory MacCabe was called to the Bar in 1984 and admitted to the Inner Bar in 1999. He was appointed to the Circuit Court in 2007. Prior to joining the Bar he was a Civil Servant.
The Term of Office of the current Chair, Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring, ends on 11th December 2021.

The Minister for Justice, Mrs Helen McEntee TD, has today received the approval of the Government for the nomination of Judge Rory MacCabe as a member of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) and as its next Chairperson. The nomination follows a selection process which sought expressions of interest from serving or retired judges to fill the role of Chairperson upon the completion of the term of office of the current Chairperson.

The Garda Síochána Act 2005 provides that the GSOC chairperson and commissioners are appointed by the President on the nomination of the Government, following resolutions in the Dáil and Seanad. The Hon. Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring, a High Court judge, is GSOC’s current Chairperson; her term of office is due to end on 11 December 2021. She will now return to the High Court.

Minister McEntee said,

“The nomination of Judge Rory MacCabe follows an assessment process conducted by a selection committee established by the Chief Justice; to identify suitable candidates to be appointed to the position of Chairperson of GSOC. I am delighted to be able to nominate a person of Judge MacCabe’s experience and calibre to this important body. In light of the significance of the role of the Chair of GSOC and the recent precedent, I have also received the approval of the Government to nominate Judge MacCabe to the High Court.

I will now arrange for the necessary resolutions to be moved in the Oireachtas recommending his appointment as Chair of GSOC by the President.

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the outgoing Chairperson, the Hon Ms. Justice Mary Ellen Ring. Over the last six years, Ms Justice Ring has served with distinction as Chairperson, providing strong and effective leadership to the organisation and has ensured that its reputation as an independent, impartial investigator of complaints against members of An Garda Síochána, has been enhanced”