asked the Minister for Health if he is aware that the Dublin Corporation Health Department's regulations are such that many publicans are being compelled to discontinue serving soup and other cooked meals to their customers; and if he will consider taking steps to ensure that regulations are made which will enable hot food to be served in such establishments.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Serving of Meals in Public Houses.
5.
I presume that the Deputy is referring to the administration by the Dublin Health Authority of the Food Hygiene Regulations, 1950 to 1961, made by the Minister for Health under Part V of the Health Act, 1947, as amended. I am not aware that the position in regard to the serving of certain classes of food in licensed premises is as stated.
The carrying on of a licensed premises constitutes a food business for the purpose of the Food Hygiene Regulations and the proprietor is obliged to ensure that the premises and the food business conducted therein comply with the relevant requirements of the regulations.
The regulations are designed to protect the public health by ensuring the observance of satisfactory standards of hygiene at all stages in the preparation and service of food sold or intended to be sold for human consumption and I have no evidence that the Dublin Health Authority is enforcing these standards in an unreasonable manner in respect of the licensed premises mentioned. Accordingly, I do not consider that any action on my part is called for.
Is the Minister aware that under existing regulations a publican can sell a chicken in a paper bag for taking away from the premises and if the customer decides to eat it out of his hand on the premises, the publican cannot prevent him from doing so and, on the other hand, he is prevented by the regulations from serving the same chicken on a plate with a knife and fork? Furthermore, a publican is permitted to add Bovril to hot water to serve to his customers but he is not permitted to serve instant soup.
I am perfectly certain that the enforcement of regulations of such wide scope as this will give rise to anomalies in certain circumstances but, as I have said, the administration and enforcement of these regulations rests with the Dublin Health Authority and I have no power to compel them to enforce them in any particular way.
The Minister is in the soup with the publicans.