The President of the Federation of Independent Retailers (the Fed) in Ireland has again written to politicians across the political spectrum to lay bare some of the challenges facing independent retailers.

The letter also included an offer to Teachta Dálas (TDs) to meet with Fed representatives to discuss issues of concern in greater detail either in Dublin or their constituencies.

In the letter, Martin Mulligan wrote: “Independent retailers play a vital role in Irish society, with its strong tradition of independent retail, and are focal points in the villages, towns and cities across the country.”

“However, our members understandably have concerns about a range of rising costs across the board including taxation, above inflation increases in the minimum wage and higher energy costs.”

So that retailers’ voices are better understood by the government, Dáil and Seanad, the Fed reiterated its call for the creation of a Small Business Ombudsman to monitor the impact of government policy.

Mr Mulligan said: “2026 looks to be a very tough year for small retail businesses across the country. The Fed wants to be able to share our perspective face-to-face with senior political figures across Ireland.”

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The Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI), in partnership with Bank of Ireland, announced the Irish Motor Industry Award Winners at the prestigious Clayton Hotel in Dublin on Thursday, 19th February.

Marty Whelan, master of ceremonies, revealed the winners in front of over 700 senior figures in the Motor Industry. Brian Cooke, SIMI Director General, and Vinny Coghlan, Head of Asset and Motor Finance, Bank of Ireland, presented the awards.

An independent panel adjudicated the winners in six award categories, highlighting excellence and best practices in the Irish Motor Industry over the past year.

Category Award Winners include:
– Bodyshop of the Year: Collision Experts Galway East

– Vehicle Recovery Operator of the Year: Cartow.ie, Dublin

– Independent Sales Operation of the Year: Ashford Motors, Wicklow

– Independent Aftersales Operation of the Year: Service Stop Ltd, Dublin

– Franchised Aftersales Operation of the Year: Fitzpatrick’s Garage, Kildare

– Franchised Sales Operation of the Year: Fitzpatrick’s Garage Mercedes-Benz, Kildare

SIMI President Mark Woods congratulated this year’s award winners and nominees. Acknowledging the wide, diverse, and wonderful businesses that form the Irish Motor Industry.

Zero Emission Vehicles Ireland (ZEVI) also announced the regional winners of the ZEVI EV Dealership of the Year awards. These awards recognise and reward excellence in the promotion and sale of electric vehicles (EVs) in Ireland.

ZEVI EV Dealership of the Year Regional Award Winners include:

– Fred Kilmartin Ltd Co. Galway, (Connacht)

– Fitzpatrick’s Garage, Naas, Co. Kildare (Leinster)

– Nyhan Motors. Co. Cork (Munster)

– Connolly’s Volkswagen Letterkenny Co. Donegal (Ulster)

Mr. Woods commented, “The automotive industry is undergoing a dramatic transformation. The shift to battery-electric and hydrogen-powered vehicles is an exciting moment for our sector. Change on this scale brings increased costs, new regulatory demands, and a different way of doing business. This decarbonisation transition will be delivered through a combination of technologies: electric and hybrid vehicles, low-carbon fuels, and ongoing efficiency improvements across the entire fleet. Managing this transformation requires coordinated action from policymakers, infrastructure providers, energy suppliers, and industry, so that emissions continue to fall while maintaining affordable, practical, and accessible mobility for consumers and for businesses.”

Vinny Coghlan, Head of Asset and Motor Finance, Bank of Ireland, “Bank of Ireland is delighted to continue our sponsorship of the SIMI Irish Motor Industry Awards. 2026 marks our 10th year of sponsorship, and this event serves as a reminder of the relentless dedication to customer excellence shown across every stage of the motor customer journey in the industry. Supporting the motor industry remains a key element of our strategy in Bank of Ireland, and we look forward to evolving and enhancing our customer journey to meet the needs of this dynamic sector.”

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Joanne joins Safefood from the Department of Health (IE), where she served as Head of Population Health Screening and Cardiovascular Policy. Her career also includes 16 years at University College Cork’s School of Food and Nutritional Sciences, where she was Director of the Food Industry Training Unit.

Reflecting on her appointment, Joanne Uí Chrualaoich, CEO of Safefood, said: “The work of Safefood is a cornerstone of the all-island health and food safety infrastructure, and I am delighted to lead an implementation body that remains central to North-South cooperation. Growing up in a border community, I have a deep appreciation for the vital role these partnerships play. My goal is to leverage my experience in both the food and health sectors to drive organisational growth while maintaining the strong, collaborative links I have built with colleagues in both the Department of Health in Dublin and the Department of Health in Belfast.”

Trained as both a chemist and a psychologist, Uí Chrualaoich brings a unique “science-meets-behaviour” approach to the agency’s mandate. This dual expertise is critical to Safefood’s mission of transforming rigorous scientific evidence into practical, trusted advice for the public.

“Everything we achieve depends on trust – trust in science, in institutions, and in the messages people receive,” Joanne continues. “My background helps me bridge those worlds. It allows me to anchor our work in scientific evidence while also understanding how people interpret information and how behaviours changes.”

Under Uí Chrualaoich’s leadership, Safefood is prioritising the development of its first long-term strategy, Safefood 2036. This project aims to look beyond immediate work programmes to address how rapid changes in technology, supply chains, and consumer habits will impact public health over the next decade.

“The organisation is at a point of real maturity,” Joanne explained. “It’s the right moment to step back and ask ourselves what our long-term goal should be. Safefood 2036 is about thinking boldly. We will listen to our partners, the food industry, academia and critically the public to ensure our work remains credible, relevant, and focused on improving lives across the island.”

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Airfield Estate, Dublin’s urban farm and education centre, today announced a new partnership with catering provider Gather + Gather to expand paid employment opportunities in the hospitality sector for people with intellectual disabilities.  The GROW programme, developed by Airfield Estate, will deliver supported further employment on the 38-acre estate in Dundrum, in collaboration with Gather + Gather and other large employers across Dublin.

The announcement comes as Ireland continues to lag behind its EU counterparts in disability employment, with just 32.6% of people with disabilities in work, compared with an EU average of 51.3% according to the Disability Federation of Ireland (*see notes to editor)

Claire MacEvilly, CEO of Airfield Estate, said the partnership reflects a practical approach to inclusion: “GROW is about delivering real outcomes through employment. Working with our restaurant partners Gather & Gather, allows us to move beyond short-term placements and create genuine pathways into work for people who are too often excluded from the labour market. GROW offers something practical, scalable and proven, it opens the door to work”.

Gather + Gather will work with Airfield Estate to provide meaningful, skills-based work placements within Overends Kitchen, the onsite café and across the wider hospitality sector, supporting participants to develop real hospitality experience and pathways into employment.

Pauline Cox, Managing Director of Gather + Gather Ireland, said the initiative aligns social impact with their day-to-day business: “As Airfield Estate’s restaurant partner, we see firsthand the value of creating real opportunities in real workplaces. GROW is a practical, proven programme that supports people to build skills, confidence and experience, while helping employers like us broaden access to talent within the hospitality sector.”

The GROW programme, which stands for Growth, Respect, Opportunity and Wellbeing, also offers supported work placements across horticulture, farming and operations. Participants are supported by a dedicated skills trainer and programme co-ordinator, with a focus on building confidence, workplace skills and progression into paid employment.

Previous participants in the GROW programme have progressed into paid roles at Airfield Estate and with employers including Gather & Gather, An Post, Amazon, TikTok and Dublin Bus.

One recent participant, Conor Doherty from Harold’s Cross, Dublin recently progressed from the GROW programme to gain employment with Gather + Gather in Overends restaurant at Airfield Estate. Conor joined GROW and completed work experience across the farm, gardens, facilities and the restaurant at Airfield. These hands-on experiences equipped him with the adaptability required to thrive in a fast-paced restaurant environment, enabling him to transition smoothly into his role at Overends Kitchen.

Airfield Estate plans to scale the GROW programme this year to support up to 20 participants and is also exploring the development of a similar programme for people with physical disabilities. The GROW programme is delivered in partnership with Gather + Gather, WALK’s REAL programme, GHEEL and St John of God’s Day Services. Other supporters include Dundrum Town Centre.

For further information on GROW as a participant or if you are a business that wishes to support the programme, please visit www.airfield.ie/grow

Pictured in Airfield Estate, Dundrum, Dublin, announcing a new partnership with Gather + Gather to expand paid employment opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities in the hospitality sector are: Claire Mac Evilly, CEO, Airfield Estate, Asa Kearney, a current GROW participant from Killiney and Tom Isherwood, General Manager, Overends Kitchen for Gather + Gather.

Photos courtesy of: Finbarr O’Rourke www.forphoto.ie

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Thursday 5th March 2026

The Food Safety Consultative Council of the Food Safety Authority of Ireland will hold its Open Meeting focusing on Navigating Misinformation in Food Safety on Thursday, 5th March at the Convention Centre, North Wall Quay, Dublin from 8:45am to 2.10pm.

The meeting will bring together key professionals and thought leaders to explore how misinformation challenges food safety communication. Through expert presentations and a thought-provoking panel discussion, this event will create space for open dialogue and the exchange of perspectives on the challenges of communicating food safety in today’s complex information environment.

Chaired by Ms Suzanne Campbell, Food Journalist, Author & Broadcaster, the event will be introduced by Mr Greg Dempsey CEO, and Mr Jamie Knox, Chair, Food Safety Consultative Council.

Speakers on the day will include: 

• Mark Little, Journalist and Entrepreneur
• Professor, Ciara Greene, School of Psychology, UCD
• Dr Gary McGowan, Doctor, Physiotherapist and Trainer
• Jane Ryder, Communications Manager, FSAI
• Jill Murphy, Senior Technical Executive, FSAI
• Gail Carroll Director RACB, FSAI

This event is designed for food businesses, food safety professionals, regulators, policymakers, communicators, academics and anyone with an interest in food safety, risk communication and public trust. Whether you work directly in food safety or in communications, this event will provide valuable insights into tackling misinformation in the modern world.

For more information on the speakers and the event the programme, please click here

Free to attend, but space is limited. Early registration is advised.

Please note this event is an in-person only, live event.

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