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Bord Bia

General Industry News

2019 saw first decline in Irish tourism economy for 8 years

Business World – 30.12.2019

The tourism economy saw its first decline in 8 years as revenue fell by 1% although volume grew marginally. The Irish Tourism Industry Confederation (ITIC) today warned that sustaining success in the tourism sector in 2020 requires pro-active Government intervention. The tourism industry in Ireland was worth €9.3 billion in 2019 with 265,000 people employed in the sector. However the umbrella group, representing key tourism stakeholders, stated that Brexit, the VAT hike, and increased costs of business have all put significant pressure on the industry and ITIC stressed that more needs to be done in 2020 to support Ireland’s largest indigenous industry and biggest regional employer.

Consumers buoyed by Brexit deal in December

RTE – 10.01.2020

Consumer sentiment improved in December to post the first back-to-back monthly gain in four years as the risk of a damaging 'no-deal' Brexit receded. KBC Bank Ireland's consumer sentiment index rose to 81.4 in December, from 77.1 in November and the seven-year low of 69.5 in October. The improvement represents the largest two-month gain since January 2015, though sentiment is still some way short of the 17-year-high of 110.4 reached in early 2018. Ireland has remained the European Union's fastest growing economy during three years of Brexit talks. But consumer confidence faltered when it seemed that the UK could leave the bloc without agreeing to a withdrawal deal.

Restaurants Association of Ireland hits back at proposed Calories on Menus legislation

Restaurants Association of Ireland – 07.01.2020

The Restaurants Association of Ireland are outraged at proposed new legislation, which would see displaying calories on menus becoming mandatory for all restaurants, pubs, catering establishments and eateries. Adrian Cummins, CEO of the Restaurants Association of Ireland, said: “It looks like this proposed legislation for presenting calories on menus is being rammed through by the Government with little thought about the negative effects it will have. This really is nanny-statism at its best. Enforcing calorie count menus will cost the state tens of millions of euro to implement, money that would quite frankly be better spent elsewhere. Chefs will also be spending more and more time doing paperwork than in the kitchen, which will do nothing to make the career more appealing when we are facing a chef shortage. The RAI are calling for Education not Legislation. We want to see Home Economics or Food Science equivalent mandatory in Second-Level and we need more comprehensive food education on the Primary education syllabus.