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Swimming is set to be permanently banned at Merrion Strand in Dublin due to ongoing poor water quality results, according to Dublin City Council.

The south Dublin beach failed to meet minimum EU bathing water standards for four years in a row up to and including 2018.

If it fails to meet the minimum standards for a fifth consecutive year, a “permanent prohibition” on bathing will be put in place. It would be the first Irish beach to have such a prohibition.

 While the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will not issue the results of its 2019 bathing water quality tests until April or May, the council has said there is a “high risk” Merrion Stand will again fail to make the grade.

The Happy Pear, the vegetarian-vegan food brand of brothers Dave and Steve Flynn, has struck an exclusive licensing deal with the Musgrave Group to develop, distribute and market its products across Ireland - and potentially worldwide.

The agreement deepens Musgrave's seven-year relationship selling Happy Pear retail products in its SuperValu, Centra and Mace stores. Their new partnership means Musgrave has acquired from the Flynns the responsibility for producing, distributing and marketing all Happy Pear packaged retail products.

 It also means The Happy Pear and Musgrave "will cooperate in researching and activating international markets globally".

The owners of Northern Ireland cafe business Synge & Byrne are examinining options for the chain's first location in the Republic as they seek to Brexit-proof their firm.

 Director and co-owner Adrian Garvey said the chain hoped to open its first outlet here by the second quarter of this year, and would target regional and commuter towns for expansion.

Synge & Byrne has seven outlets in Northern Ireland, including Belfast, Newry, Derry and Dungannon.

 The Garveys - whose BWL Group also operates the O'Brien's Sandwich Bars chain in Northern Ireland - developed the Synge & Byrne concept in 2013 and initially opened three outlets.

 

 

Planning permission has been granted for a near €40m indoor exhibition and sports centre on the western outskirts of Cork city.

 But planners insist that the proposed Munster Agricultural Society (MAS) venue, earmarked for a portion of its site in Curraheen, just south of the N40 Ballincollig bypass, cannot be used as an examinations hall. They said they are not satisfied that the applicant adequately demonstrated to the planning authority the traffic impacts of such an educational use at this time.

 And while the MAS previously stated that they do not intend to stage concerts at the venue, the second of 42 conditions attached to the grant of planning specifically states: “In the interests of clarity the development shall not be used as an examination hall or for public concerts or entertainment events.”