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Irish Times
12 hours ago
- Irish Times
Sunbed business fined for selling session to minor
A judge has imposed a €2,600 penalty on a sunbed business for selling a session to a minor. In the case before Ennis District Court, Judge Alec Gabbett imposed a €1,000 fine and costs of €1,600 on Solcraft Ltd for selling a sunbed session to a girl (15) at its premises Cosmopoli Tan in Shannon, Co Clare , last year. It came after a 'secret shopper' was deployed by the Health Service Executive (HSE) to do a test purchase in Cosmopoli Tan at Unit 7, Block E, Bru Na Sionna, Shannon, on November 26th, 2024. Barry Kelleher, solicitor for the HSE, told the court that on the date 'a 15-year-old child attended at the salon and approached the counter and asked for use of sunbed session'. READ MORE Mr Kelleher said 'the child asked for three minutes of time and she was told that she could get four minutes for the price of three'. Mr Kelleher said the child 'was never asked for her age or ID'. He said the firm has no previous convictions, that the transaction took place and the child left the premises. Solicitor for the firm, John Casey, said the business has a number of notices placed across its premises saying 'No ID, no sunbed'. Mr Kelleher said there was a further inspection of the premises in April this year as there was a report of underage sales continuing. Mr Casey said on that date the company was found to be in compliance. Mr Kelleher said the test purchasers deployed by the HSE don't actually take the sunbed sessions. 'You would need danger money to do that,' the judge said. Mr Kelleher told the court that people aged under 35 who use sunbeds increase their risk of developing melanoma by 75 per cent. The judge said 'children should not be in these premises – that is very straightforward' and he imposed the €1,000 fine as a deterrent to ensure compliance. Asked about the level of enforcement activity under the Public Health (Sunbeds) Act, a HSE spokesman said last month: 'In 2024, 10 fixed payment notices were served and four prosecutions taken by the National Environmental Health Service under the Public Health (Sunbeds) Act 2014. 'Two of the prosecutions were for sales to minors and both were upheld by the court.'
Dublin Live
2 days ago
- Dublin Live
No exemptions for student rent hikes under new housing rules
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Landlords will be able to hike up rents to market rates every time a student leaves private rental accommodation voluntarily, Housing Minister James Browne confirmed. He said that creating special provisions for cohorts who may have to move frequently, including students, junior doctors, and gardaí, would be 'unworkable' and 'unenforceable.' The Government confirmed plans last week to overhaul the Rent Pressure Zone (RPZ) legislation. One part of this was that landlords could increase their rents to market rates after a six-year contract came to an end. However, rents can also be raised at any stage if a tenant leaves voluntarily. This raised questions about students who live in private rental accommodation for an academic year before moving on. Groups representing Non-Consultant Hospital Doctors also raised concerns about the impact on junior doctors who rotate between hospitals every couple of months. However, the Housing Minister confirmed that no measures will be taken to protect short-term renters from rent increases. Minister Browne said he was engaging with Higher Education Minister James Lawless to ensure that students in student-specific accommodation would be protected. However, he said that there 'won't be any special measures put in in terms of the private rental sector' for students, as it would 'become impossible to police or to manage in those services'. He continued: 'There's always, I suppose, challenges like that. Students, nurses, gardaí, doctors, consultants. 'There is no special exemptions in current law for people in that particular situation and there won't be under the new legislation either as drafted. 'I think to try and engineer into the legislation that a landlord would then have to identify what that person's role [is]… 'Are they a student? Are they a full-time student? Part-time student? What qualifies a student? 'It will be unworkable and I think it would be unenforceable.' The Cabinet also agreed to sign off on former HSE Chief Paul Reid as head of An Coimisiún Pleanála. Mr Browne confirmed to the Irish Mirror that Mr Reid will be paid €50,000 a year and was 'not aware' of any allowances. He stated that Mr Reid has 'governance and management experience'. The Housing Minister also stated that he is 'very hopeful' that the legislation extending RPZs nationwide will be passed by the end of the week. The Dáil will debate the legislation today [weds] where it is expected to pass all stages. It is then expected to be rushed through the Seanad on Thursday. Minister Browne said that landlords not currently covered by RPZ legislation 'can't simply hike up rents' but there 'may be a few landlords who haven't done a review, might be carrying it out at the moment'. It follows suggestions from Labour's housing spokesman Conor Sheehan that there was anecdotal evidence of landlords attempting to increase rents before the RPZs came in. In the Dáil, Leaders' Questions were dominated by housing ahead of the 'Raise the Roof' protest outside Leinster House from 6pm. Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said that the Government's plans for the rental sector include ' forcing ripped off renters to carry the can for your failure' and a 'rent hike Bill.' She said: 'All renters will be subject to big hikes over time. Those moving into new build properties will be hit with massive market rent from day one, while those who move frequently for work and education and regularly enter new tenancies will be absolutely hammered.' Taoiseach Micheál Martin argued, however, that the reforms meant that 'renters will have stronger protections than ever before' as the whole country will be subject to rent increase caps. Labour leader Ivana Bacik accused the Government of 'chaotic decision making, u-turns, drip feeds and hasty rewrites of flawed press releases'. She added: 'Anyone watching will be wondering when you're going to take political responsibility for the housing crisis. 'You're the Taoiseach, you're in government, your party and Fine Gael have effectively governed together for the best part of a decade and yet you are resorting to throwing critiques at the opposition for not building homes.' This led to a heated exchange between Mr Martin and Ms Bacik, as the Taoiseach told her that Labour 'could have been in Government' following the last election but 'didn't have the courage'. Hundreds of people gathered outside Leinster House on Tuesday evening for the Raise the Roof protest. The group heard from political parties and trade unions calling for a change in the Government's housing policy. Ms McDonald said the protest had gathered to 'call out the Government' and their 'spoof and outright lies'. She accused the Government of 'normalising' homelessness. She said: 'This housing crisis now affects every family, affects every aspect of Irish society. We are in this together, and we are strong, and we will face them down, call them out, force their hand. 'Housing a home is a human right. Dignity is a human right. Our renters cannot be again put to the pin of their collar and screwed because the Government wants to lick the boots of cuckoos and vultures and big investment funds. 'Our message today to Micheál Martin and Simon Harris is, lads, the game is up. 'The people are at the gate.' Join our Dublin Live breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive your daily dose of Dublin Live content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice . For all the latest news from Dublin and surrounding areas visit our homepage .
Business Post
3 days ago
- Business Post
Irish and European markets tick lower in midday trade
The Iseq All Share has closed in the red, ending the day up 1.85 per cent since previous...
