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Wedding Guests Rise to 100

The number of guests at a wedding can increase from 50 to 100 from 5 August, the Cabinet agreed yesterday. brides2

The decision came as a group of 'Brides to Be' protested outside Leinster House.

The new rules form part of the gradual reopening of the hospitality which will also see baptisms resume from the same date. However, the religious element only will be permitted and not a gathering afterwards.

There are also no plans to resume Communions or Confirmations.

The timeline of weddings doubling in size in August was first announced a number of months ago but the increase in cases caused by the Delta variant of Covid-19 had put that timeline in doubt.

However, the government has now agreed that limit could increase to 100 guests, after the August bank holiday weekend.

In a statement following the Cabinet meeting, the government highlighted the pace of the vaccination programme which now sees over 69% of adults fully vaccinated.

Guidance for weddings has been updated on the government’s Covid-19 website, noting that they can increase to 100 people from 5 August with the current protective measures remaining in place.

Galgorm is 'Special Needs' Aware

Galgorm Collection, has confirmed a new three-year strategic partnership with the NOW Group which will see the first ever Gold Jam Card membership on the island of Ireland galgorm0721

awarded to a hospitality partner.

Established in 2000, the NOW Group is a social enterprise focused on supporting people with learning difficulties and autism into jobs with a future. The group’s JAM Card Gold Membership is awarded to businesses that demonstrably place diversity and accessibility at the heart of business.

Through the programme, Galgorm Collection will place its full team through rigorous training to become JAM Card friendly, which means that guests requiring additional time and patience can discretely alert team members and ask for ‘Just A Minute’. It is hoped that the new initiative will help to support guests and visitors with learning difficulties, autism, or communication barriers to experience its full five-star service.

Flogas promotes 'Green Energy'

Energy company Flogas Ireland is ‘greening up’ for an electric summer with the launch of its new Green Electricity campaign. It encourages to swcustomers to switch to a 100% paulkenny0721 Green alternative for their electricity, while saving some money along the way. Paul Kenny, general manager, Flogas Energy (pictured) said “Sustainability, cost and local community involvement are the key areas customers tell us that matter in choosing an electricity supplier. Many customers don’t yet know that Flogas offers electricity and we feel that they will be excited to hear that a locally based, established Irish energy company who they have dealt with for decades, is now offering them cost effective 100% green electricity.” .

The campaign is aimed at residential customers in specific regions of the country where Flogas has built up a strong awareness as a provider of natural gas and LPG for many years.

Costa Case Contested

The landlord of the Costa Coffee café in Dundrum Town Centre takes “grave issue” with a claim that the lease on the premises has been frustrated during the pandemic, the Hig costa h Court has heard.

MBCC Foods (Ireland), trading as Costa Coffee, got an order from the court last week preventing Campbell Catering, trading as Aramark Food Services Ireland, from presenting a petition to wind up MBCC in a dispute over unpaid rent of €367,000.

MBCC’s case is that the lease had been frustrated by the pandemic and it has been prevented carrying out its business despite the fact that, at times during the lifting of lockdown, the Dundrum centre itself was open.

The case returned to court on Tuesday when Lyndon MacCann SC, for Aramark, said the claims by MBCC were fully denied in a replying affidavit.

Counsel said the MBCC claim the lease was frustrated was “spurious” and something his side took grave issue with.

The court heard MBCC was prepared to lodge the disputed rent in its solicitor’s client account pending the outcome of the full action by MBCC.

Ireland bids for Americas Cup

Ireland has made it to a final list of potential locations to hold the America's Cup sailing competition in 2024. americascup0721

Ministers will be told this morning that Cork Harbour has been proposed as the country's host venue.

The America's Cup is the world's biggest sailing event.

It has taken place in New Zealand on the past three occasions, but is expected to be held elsewhere in 2024.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney will tell Cabinet colleagues that Ireland has progressed to a final list of potential venues - along with a small number of other countries.

The financial spin off for the host nation will be significant because of a three-year lead up to the competition.

New Zealand estimated the benefit to its economy from this year's event would be between €350 million and almost €600 million.

The global viewership was 940 million.

Last month a team of specialists visited Cork Harbour to examine a site for a team village, wind speeds and a racing circuit.

It is likely a final decision will be made in October.