Thurles Information

Heavy Summer Rainfall Is Putting Pressure On Irish Beaches.

Bathing water quality remains high overall, but heavy summer rainfall is putting pressure on our beaches.

Bathing water quality in 2023 was high overall, with 97% (143 of 148) of sites meeting or exceeding the minimum standard, the same number as in 2022.
114 bathing sites (77%) had excellent water quality, down from 117 in 2022.
The number of beaches with poor bathing water quality increased to five, compared with three in 2022. Discharges from wastewater overflows and misconnections are the main issue at these beaches.
The wet weather in July and August 2023 put pressure on our beaches resulting in more beach closures to protect public health.
The rainfall events in 2023 highlighted the need to build climate resilience into the effective management of bathing waters.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has today published the Bathing Water Quality in Ireland report for 2023 which shows that water quality at the majority of Ireland’s bathing waters was of a high standard. 77 per cent of bathing sites have ‘Excellent’ water quality while 97% meet the minimum standard.

Bathing water quality can be impacted by heavy rainfall. This results in waste water overflows and in runoff from agricultural lands and urban areas which can cause short-term deterioration in water quality. In 2023 urban waste water related incidents were the most frequently reported cause of beach closures. Run-off from agriculture, fouling from dogs left on the beach, wastewater from properties going to surface water drains rather than sewer (known as misconnections) and algal blooms also impacted on bathing waters.

Record rainfall levels in July and storms in August led to more beach closures in 2023 than in previous years. The rainfall events in 2023 highlighted the need to build climate resilience into the effective management of bathing waters.

Commenting on the report, Dr Eimear Cotter, Director of the EPA, Office of Evidence and Assessment, said: “While our bathing water quality is generally very good overall, there is a need to build climate resilience into the management of bathing waters to reduce the risk of pollution following heavy rainfall. This needs action by all sectors including Uisce Éireann, local authorities, and agriculture to reduce overflows from urban waste water systems, and runoff from urban areas and agricultural land. While beach closures play an important role in protecting bathers’ health, local authorities need to improve their understanding of the pressures which can impact beaches in the context of changing rainfall patterns.”

The number of beaches classified as poor increased from three to five in 2023. These are Balbriggan Front Strand Beach, Lady’s Bay (Buncrana), Trá na mBan (An Spidéal), which were also poor in 2022, and Loughshinny and Sandymount beaches in Dublin. The relevant local authorities and Uisce Éireann have plans in place to improve water quality at these beaches. These must be fully implemented to make these beaches safe for swimming.

No new bathing water sites were identified in 2023, although monitoring continues at almost 80 beaches not formally identified. The EPA encourages swimmers to engage with local authorities to officially identify and manage additional bathing sites to protect bathers’ health.

Further information on bathing water quality and updates on monitoring results during the bathing water season (1st June to 15th September) is available at www.beaches.ie.

Swimmers should always check www.beaches.ie and the signage at the beach for the latest water quality information for their local bathing site.

The report Bathing Water Quality in Ireland 2023 is now available on the EPA website HERE.

Irish Government To Increase Competitiveness By Attracting Skills.

Ireland can now enable spouses and partners of employment permit holders, already in the State, to work to fill vital gaps in the Irish workforce, such as in healthcare and construction.
The Government will begin to roll out a single permit to both work and live in Ireland, creating a smoother, more efficient system for applicants; thereby increasing Ireland’s attractiveness for the skills and talent the economy needs.
Ireland will work towards opting-in to the EU Single Permit Directive as a key part of the EU Skills and Talent Package, working with EU partners.

The Minister for Justice Mrs Helen McEntee TD and the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Mr Peter Burke TD, yesterday (Wednesday May 15th), announced that they have secured Government agreement for a number of key actions to increase the competitiveness of Ireland in attracting the skills and talent the Irish economy requires.

This will enable all eligible spouses and partners of employment permit holders to work, if they are already in the State and are granted permission to live in Ireland with their family member. Implementing a single permit will eventually allow Ireland to opt into the EU’s Single Permit Directive.

Both of these new measures should significantly enhance Ireland’s ability to compete internationally to attract talent, addressing skills shortages in the Irish economy, thus promoting economic growth.

Presently, applicants must apply to the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment for a work permit, before then applying to the Department of Justice to obtain a visa. By introducing one single permission/application, Ireland can reduce the cost and complexity for both the employer and applicant, thus ensuring that Ireland can respond more effectively and quickly to meet the skills needs of the economy.

Skills gaps affect all EU Member States, including Ireland. All EU Member States, except Ireland and Denmark, already operate a single permit for employment and residence. Other key partners, such as the UK and the US, also operate single application procedures and single permits. The currently operated process requiring separate applications, creates greater bureaucracy, risking placing Ireland at a competitive disadvantage in attracting skills and talent to the Irish economy.

By opting in to the Single Permit Directive, the Government will remove barriers in attracting key skills into Ireland, in important sectors such as healthcare and construction and reduce the cost and complexity of the current system.

Many spouses are skilled workers who have left significant jobs and employment oppertunities, in order to join their families within the Irish State, and who wish to continue their careers here in Ireland.

Currently, the ability to work without a permit was only provided to spouses and partners of Critical Skills Employment Permit holders. This has now been extended to include General Employment Permit holders and Intra-Corporate Transferee Permit holders who are already in the State and who have been granted permission to live in Ireland with their family member.
Current and future permit holders, whose spouses or partners are not in the State, will still need to apply for family reunification after 12 months

This change will, it is hoped, have an immediate positive impact for the economy and for spouses and partners who wish to work in Ireland, assisting them to contribute to the economy through taxation, to further integrate and to provide for their families.

FSAI Recall Batch Of Batts Ranch Sauce.

Food Safety of Ireland (FSAI) warn of undeclared milk, egg, and mustard in a batch of ‘Batts Ranch Sauce’.

Alert Summary dated Wednesday, May 15th 2024.

Allergy Alert Notification: 2024. A14.
Allergens: Milk, Egg, and Mustard.
Product Identification: Batts Ranch Sauce; pack size: 425g.
Batch Code Best before: 17/01/2025.

Country Of Origin: Ireland.

Message: The above batch of Batts Ranch Sauce contains milk, egg, and mustard which are not declared in the list of ingredients.
This may make the batch unsafe for consumers who are allergic to or intolerant of milk, egg, and/or mustard.

FSAI Recall Batch Of Tesco Sandwich Pickle.

Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) recall a batch of Tesco Sandwich Pickle due to the possible presence of glass pieces.

Alert Summary dated today Wednesday, May 15th 2024.
Category 1: For Action.
Alert Notification: 2024.19.
Product Identification: Tesco Sandwich Pickle; pack size: 295g.
Batch Code: 3254; best before: 11/09/2025.

Message: The above batch of Tesco Sandwich Pickle is being recalled by Tesco due to the possible presence of glass pieces. Recall notices will be displayed at point-of-sale in Tesco Stores.

Action Required: Wholesalers, distributors, caterers & retailers are requested to remove the implicated batch from sale and display recall notices at point-of-sale.

Consumers: Consumers are advised not to eat the implicated batch.

Please Don’t Tell Me How The Story Ends

Kris Kristofferson & Rita Coolidge – Please don’t tell me how the story ends (1978).

Lyrics: American retired country singer, songwriter and actor Kris Kristofferson.
Vocals: Kris Kristofferson and his former wife and American recording artist Ms Rita Coolidge.

Please don’t tell me how the story ends.

This may be our last goodnight together.
We may never pass this way again.
Just let me enjoy it ’till its over,
Or forever.
Please don’t tell me how the story ends.
See the way our shadows come together,
Softer than your fingers on my skin.
Someday this may be all, we’ll remember.
Of each other.
Please don’t tell me how the story ends.
Never’s just the echo of forever,
Lonesome as the love that might have been.
Let me go on loving and believing,
‘Till it’s over babe.
Don’t tell me how the story ends
Please don’t tell me how the story ends.

END