Contd. from page 8

Dr. O’Brien is in no doubt about the scale of the job he has taken on. There are 44,000 food businesses in Ireland, employing an estimated 500,000 staff. The FSAI oversees some 2,500 people working under contract to carry out enforcement and inspection activities relating to the food sector.

Originally from Midleton, Co. Cork, Dr. O’Brien joins the FSAI from multinational food group Danone where he held a number of positions including Director of Corporate Scientific Affairs and head of the Food Safety Centre based in Paris. He joined Danone from the University of Surrey where we was lecturing in food safety. Dr. O’Brien is a chartered biologist and registered toxicologist; he has a BSc and PhD in Food Science and Food Chemistry, respectively, from University College, Cork and an MSc in Toxicology from the University of Surrey.

Dr. O’Brien’s previous posts have included lecturer in food chemistry at University College, Cork, post-doctoral researcher at the Strathclyde Institute for Drug Research at the University of Strathclyde and lecturer in food safety and toxicology at the University of Surrey.

Dr. O’Brien’s immediate priority is a new strategy plan to take the FSAI into the future. He plans to launch this in the New Year. But ongoing themes of his stewardship, areas he is passionate about, include labelling, the growing problem of obesity and consumer protection generally.

Shortcomings in labelling fall under three main headings from how products are described, mislabelled and how they can impact on human health by, for example, making unsustainable statements of nutritional properties. Smoked salmon is a classic example of how misleading labels can be. One arguably needs a doctorate in English to decipher whether the product is the ‘Real McCoy’, from abroad or farmed.

Dr. O’Brien is especially hot on the issue of salt and pays tribute to the food companies that have “reacted to health considerations in coming up with ways of extracting salt from their products”. While noting that we do not have compulsive labelling of salt in this country, he refers to research which indicates how reducing our daily intake from nine grammes to six grammes a day should save up to 1,000 lives.

The FSAI is a member of the national task force on obesity and as food is obviously part of that equation, it is naturally that the food regulator should be keenly interested in this area. “It’s a very big problem especially when it impacts on children”, he says. The dreadful scenario, argues Dr. O’Brien, is that there is “the potential for a generation of children who will die younger than their parents”.

The Brandon House Hotel, Health Club and Spa has just launched its brand new website at www.brandonhousehotel.ie. Visitors who log on for the first time will be greeted with four vibrant images of the hotel, along with quotations that embody the spirit of the Brandon House.

A rolling news service gives details about all the latest offers at the hotel and an upcoming events section provides information about what is happening in the hotel and the surrounding area.

General Manager, Grace McPhillips says “The website gives a real flavour of the hotel, and we hope that people will come back regularly to see what is happening not only in the hotel but in New Ross too”.

The website can be viewed at www.brandonhousehotel.ie.

The Mercer Accommodation Group has equipped its newest hotel, The Fairgreen Hotel in Galway, with state of the art infrastructure which delivers Internet in all hotel bedrooms, WI-FI internet access in the lobby and public areas and IP telephony throughout the building. The technical infrastructure was installed by Abacus Network Systems, the technology partner for the Mercer Group.

According to Ciaran Bauer, Financial Director of Abacus, "Access to broadband in the bedrooms is over the Ethernet. Guests do not have to alter their corporate or personal laptop settings. They don't need modems or special software; all they need is an Ethernet cable and if they haven't brought one with them, they can purchase one from reception."

Established in 1995, C&C Wholesale is one of Ireland’s leading distributors of packaged soft drinks and alcoholic beverages to the Hotel Sector. It boasts an impressive portfolio with own brands such as Club Soft Drinks, Club Mixers, 7UP, Pepsi, TK, Miwadi and WKD. In addition, the company sells other top brands such as Bulmers, Britvic, Ballygowan and a wide range of market leading beers and soft drinks.

With a network of nine depots throughout Ireland, C&C Wholesale aims to provide a top class service to the Hotel Trade helped by industry leading skills in sales, promotion and customer service as well as by the breadth of its portfolio offering.

For information Tel: 0504 21022 / 01 6305000, Email: ccw.sales@cantrell.ie, Web: www.ccw.ie

Energy Efficiency for SME Businesses

ESB Customer Supply is committed to encouraging greater efficiency in the use of energy as one important part of protecting the environment for future generations. It is currently developing an energy efficiency programme that is focused on promoting products and services that will help our customers in using electricity more efficiently.

In addition to the energy efficiency programme ESB Customer Supply also offers advice on tariffs, focused on ensuring that customers are on the best tariff for their business needs. They also provide a range of bill payment options such as direct debit and receipting through Post Offices and through Paypoint outlets.

For information Tel: 1850 372 787, Email: business@mail.esb.ie, Web: www.esb.ie/business

IMRO is a national organisation that administers the performing right in copyright music in Ireland on behalf of its members – songwriters, composers and music publishers. IMRO’s function is to collect and distribute royalties arising from the public performance of copyright works. IMRO is a not-for-profit organisation.

The organisation is also prominently involved in the sponsorship and promotion of music in Ireland. IMRO is constantly working on raising awareness of the implications of the public use of music in terms of royalties due, including the sponsorship of prizes for excellence in legal, marketing and hotel management studies in various colleges and universities in Ireland.

For information contact Patrick Kelly, Tel: 01 6614844, Email info@imro.ie

Gram (UK) Ltd. are suppliers of commercial refrigeration equipment to the retail and leisure industries. The majority of products are covered by unique free extended parts and labour warranties of two or three years, so customers can be assured of reliability and efficiency.

Grams’ extensive range of products includes stainless steel undercounter cabinets, gastronorm compatible cabinets, display cabinets and refrigerated counters with various different options available. They also produce a range of blast chillers and freezers capable of chilling between 18kg and 180kg of food.

For information contact Warren Giffen Tel: 048 9182 1416

Rafferty Hospitality Products has launched the new Corby wall mounted compact ironing centre. The idea is derived from the famous 6600 combined trouser press and ironing centre. Designed and manufactured to Corby’s usual high standards, it features a dry iron and 15-minute timer, available with black or white trim. It is ideal for the busy leisure hotel replacing the need for freestanding ironing facilities.

For information, Tel: 048 3025 2205

A huge range of bottled waters are available in shops and restaurants in Ireland, but are they all the same? Strict production and labelling rules apply to bottled water to help consumers distinguish between the different types.

From a legal and trading perspective there are three types of bottled water:

Natural mineral water (NMW)

This designation is reserved for waters that are microbiologically wholesome, originate in an underground source, are protected from all risk of pollution and emerge from a spring tapped at one or more natural or bore exits. To maintain its natural state, only limited treatments are permitted.

NMW is clearly distinguished from ordinary drinking water by its mineral and trace element content and must be “officially recognized”. In Ireland, only four NMWs have been officially recognised by the National Standards Authority of Ireland: Ballygowan, Kerry Spring, Tipperary and Glenpatrick. A list of NMWs recognised by the Member States is available on the FSAI website (www.fsai.ie).

Spring waters

While official recognition for “spring water” is not required, this name is reserved for waters which come from protected and unpolluted underground sources, are bottled at source and for which only limited treatment is permitted.

Other bottled waters

For all other bottled waters, sometimes referred to as “table waters”, there are no real restrictions as regards source, processing or treatment, but the end product, must comply with EU standards for drinking water (tap water).

Bottled water is big business both nationally and internationally and consumer recognition of the differences is slowly maturing. So next time you ask for a bottle of water, check what you’re drinking - read the label.

As we approach Christmas and the New Year, it’s a time to reflect on what we as an industry have achieved this year, and to look to the future and the challenges that 2005 will undoubtedly present.

While the US and domestic tourism markets performed reasonably well during 2004, the trend towards shorter holiday breaks and a decrease in UK visitors, our largest overseas market, have had a negative impact on the sector. In an increasingly competitive international marketplace, our industry acknowledges that it must continue to offer value and quality and to market itself aggressively, if the sector is to achieve further growth.

We recently launched the 2005 Be Our Guest Guide, an integral part of the Federation’s international marketing strategy. Copies of the guide are now making their way to over 20 countries, highlighting Ireland as a destination. Interestingly, of the 900 properties that feature in both this year’s and last year’s guide, 53% of them are offering the same price or lower for accommodation as they did last year, and the average increase in accommodation prices overall is just 1.5%.

In addition to leisure tourism, I am encouraged by the recent Business Tourism Forum, hosted by Fáilte Ireland, which places a renewed focus on this under-performing sector of our industry. I welcome the workman-like approach of the Committee and the definite agenda and completion dates being set out in order to ensure that Ireland builds a viable business tourism product.

Now that Minister John O’Donoghue has committed to awarding the tender for the National Conference Centre by next summer, I hope that this time next year the only question will be on setting the opening date for this crucial piece of tourism infrastructure.

Yet despite the progress that has been made, there remain a number of key access issues that the Government now needs to address as a matter of urgency:

It must match the efforts being made by Ryanair at Shannon airport, to deliver on increased access for tourism, by giving immediate go ahead to the development of a competing second terminal at Dublin Airport, so that a similar range of new routes can be developed for the capital.

The Government must expedite the renegotiation of the bilateral air agreement between Ireland and the US to facilitate the opening of new direct air routes between the two countries while at the same time putting in place a transition arrangement to allow Shannon adjust to a new aviation environment.

There is serious concern at the attitude of Aer Lingus towards the reservations of seats for group bookings and I believe that, while acknowledging that on-line booking is the most cost effective and cost efficient method, a method must be found which facilitates the airline to lower its administration costs while at the same time facilitating tour operators in this important business sector.

The Implementation Group for the Government’s Tourism Policy Review has completed its first review of the Strategy for Growth, and must now set benchmarks and timelines against which progress can be measured over the next year. This measurement will clearly show the commitment to the Strategy for Growth by industry, Government Departments and state agencies. With ambitious targets to increase visitors to Ireland to 10 million by 2012 set by the group, I look forward to seeing real progress in our industry next year.

Finally I would like to take this opportunity to wish all readers a very Happy Christmas and peaceful New Year.

Richard Bourke

President

Intense competition between hotels, guesthouses and B&B’s is driving room rates down countrywide. It is not unusual to see a 4 star hotel advertise rates as low as €69 a night in large urban centres.

This means that hoteliers are constantly seeking ways to reduce costs in other areas. Eircom can help - until 21st January 2005, eircom is offering a free upgrade (save €99.16 ex VAT) to eircom ISDN.

ISDN is a digital line with two channels, which offers a superior service. Each channel allows the user to send and receive faxes as well as surf the Internet at faster speeds.

The standard charge to upgrade to ISDN is €99.16, however, this upgrade is free of charge for the duration of the promotion.

Customers who upgrade from two or more eircom PSTN (standard) telephone lines to one ISDN line will make instant savings on line rental. This means a saving of €8.97 on line rental each month.

Be more accessible to your guests: ISDN lets the user receive calls while online, so potential guests can always get through. An optional extra an hotel to give staff their own numbers.

Free calls between handsets on the premises: While upgrading the lines a customer may wish to consider upgrading their phone system to the eircom 5080 ISDN. For just €330 ex VAT customers get a complete voice and data solution. This includes two cordless phones with free internal calls between the handsets so they can always be contacted even when they are away from front of house.

For further information, please phone an eircom account manager or visit http://www.eircom.ie/business

Terms and conditions apply. Each application is subject to survey.