EIGHT RESTAURANTS ACROSS the country were hit by closure orders by Ireland’s food safety watchdog last month.

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) issued the orders to nine food businesses in Dublin and one each in Cork, Kerry, Waterford, Tipperary, Wexford and Roscommon.

Under the FSAI Act, environmental protection officers from the FSAI handed out the closure orders to:

• The Dark Horse Inn (public house) (Kitchen only), 1 Georges Quay, Dublin 2
• Orchid Palace (restaurant), O’Brien Street, Kanturk, Cork
• Thaicoon Thai & Asian Cuisine (restaurant), 46 Drumcondra Road Lower, Dublin 9
• Star Kebab & Pizza House (take away), 1 Strand Street, Tramore, Waterford
• Pagar Gardens (restaurant), Ormonde Centre, Prior Park, Clonmel, Tipperary
• Farmpak (grocery), 68 Irishtown, New Ross, Wexford
• Roma Grill (take away), The Crescent, Boyle, Roscommon
• New Sweet N Spice (restaurant) (Basement area only), 64 Dorset Street Upper, Dublin 1

Another seven businesses had closure orders put on them under European Community laws.

• Stela Food Stores, Unit 8, Ringwood Centre, Damastown Close, Dublin 15.
• The Smoke House (restaurant), 8 High Street, Killarney, Kerry
• Lasani (restaurant), Unit 3, Moore Street Mall, 58-66 Parnell Street, Dublin 1
• Spicy Bite (restaurant), Unit 1, Moore Street Mall, 58-66 Parnell Street, Dublin 1
• Netedo’s (restaurant), Unit 2, Moore Street Mall, 58-66 Parnell Street, Dublin 1
• Oriental Pantry Food Express (restaurant), Unit 4, Moore Street Mall, 58-66 Parnell Street, Dublin 1
• Bimdoc Cash & Carry, Business Centre, Jamestown Business Park, Jamestown Road, Finglas, Dublin 11

Bimdoc also had a prohibition order made against it.

Commenting on the high level of orders served in October, Professor Alan Reilly of the FSAI, warns that the legal onus is on food businesses to act responsibly and ensure that the food they serve and sell is safe to eat.

“While most food businesses follow high standards and are compliant with food safety legislation, we continue to encounter cases where consumers’ health is jeopardised through a failure to comply with food safety and hygiene requirements. These breaches are completely avoidable when food businesses have proper food safety management systems in place.”

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