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Updated 4.15pm
DUBLIN PUB MVP has been told it’s no longer allowed to throw its doors open to welcome dogs.
The Clanbrassil Street bar, which is operated by Bodytonic, has become known for its dog-friendly policy, but a recent visit from the HSE (as reported by Lovin Dublin) means that four legged friends will no longer be allowed.
Bodytonic’s Trev O’Shea told DailyEdge.ie that the practice of welcoming dogs onto the premises happened quite by accident, and they never set out to be known for being pet friendly.
When we were doing up the bar and some local people would be walking by they asked if they could bring their dog in with them, and we didn’t see a problem with it.
A couple of websites and blogs started calling us “dog friendly” and it was no skin off our nose.
O’Shea said that he’s not sure why the HSE has now said that allowing pets on the premises is forbidden, positing that maybe it’s been a “grey area” until now and the HSE is now cracking down on it.
The Food Safety Authority states explicitly on its website that dogs and cats are “generally not permitted in any food premises” (with the exception of guide, assistance and companion dogs).
It also states that dog-friendly or cat-friendly premises that serve food are not allowed.
A HSE spokesperson told DailyEdge.ie that this issue comes under their remit, suggesting that an environmental health officer in the Dublin 8 area may have enforced the code at MVP.
MVP serves food in the form of Spudbox; a variety of baked potato options served informally in cardboard boxes.
O’Shea said that if it’s an issue of serving food “I can’t think of a pub in Dublin that doesn’t serve food of some sort, even if it’s just a bag of crisps”.
I suppose in the back of my head this day was always coming. Welcoming dogs has become a big part of what we do. It’ll definitely have an impact. But at the end of the day rules are rules.
O’Shea also acknowledged that dogs aren’t everyone’s cup of tea, but that it had never been an issue in the pub.
A spokesperson for the Food Safety Authority reiterated national food hygiene legislation that “pet dogs and cats are not permitted in any food premises”. The spokesperson also clarified to this website that “a pub not serving food is classed as a food premises, as drinks are food, so therefore this legislation applies to them too”.
DailyEdge.ie has asked the HSE for further comment on the issue, specifically if the move is food-related and if it is to be repeated in other venues across the city.
The FSAI said that it was not aware of any clampdown in effect by the HSE.
Written by Emer McLysaght and posted on DailyEdge.ie
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They are cleaner than some of the humans who visit pubs.
HSE are the pits. Fix the hospital waiting times first.
Some? You mean almost all?
To the HSE and the FSA all dogs are companions
My dog Fido is barking mad about this.
Would the HSE be better off worrying about why Ireland has the worst health system in Europe?
So, if you are blind, you can bring a dog into a pub, but if you are not you can’t. Is that not discrimination?
Bob on Affinity.
It’ll be some numpty at the hse with nothing better to do acting on information that was given to them by someone with nothing else to do but moan and whinge.
Utter nonsense from our gombeens in “important places”.
I thought the owner of a public house makes his own mind up as to who enters his/her premises? We are do dog unfriendly in this country. In Germany dogs are allowed on the subway and into shops.
Here here
HSE is its own little dictatorship and has put many a good business to the wall. One dog allowed and another dog not allowed, all on the perceived status of its owner. “Barking mad”
Omg so true
Why are they not allowed on health reasons? Has anyone ever been poisoned by a toasted ham and cheese sandwhich because a dog was in the vicinity? Utterly stupid. If the owners are given instructions to keep the dog on a tight leash by their sides then what’s the problem?
Totally agree, dogs are welcome everywhere in mainland Europe – dogs are family, I would love to take my pooch more places with me
Put the pooch in a pouch and drink some punch.
Louise i always take my dog out with me, if you are in vicinity of Dublin there are a load of dog friendly pubs, nothing beats a Sunday session with my dog
RUTH! I meant Ruth
Oh you’re in trouble now mate ha ha
It would be worse if you got the dog name wrong ;)
Glad to see the HSE focused on the public health menace of dogs in pubs. God forbid it gets distracted by the state of emergency care, 18 month waiting lists and other stuff for which it’s responsible.
Ah god no ya don’t expect them to actually improve the health care system do ya really?
They were prob out having a few pints which will be claimed as expenses as it be deemed a “meeting” and the dog was in the pub at the wrong time
The hse should be more interested in the state of the hospitals than going around enforcing stupid rules to pubs!
What do you call that elephant in the room? Nobody is ever going to take responsibility for that shambles..the managment earn too much, the frontline dont earn enough. Unless its taken out of a ” ministery” and run like a proper business, by this I mean a CEO and proper managing directors, that work for the state, it will never ever work. What would also help, and I hate to say this, but it would also help if people stopped showing up in A&E with nothing wrong with them other than a sneeze, a cut, a sore arm whatever. They are clogging up the system, and why? Because they think its for free. And it is. Half of them dont pay, get a bill a few days later and dont pay. All because jonny cut his hand or stuck a bucket on his head. Theres a lot to be sorted..but lets put the right people in to do the job first.
Good to know that the HSE has sorted out all the major problems like staffing, wages and over crowding and can now concentrate on other areas.
This came, almost certainly, from a complaint, most likely from a customer. Someone complained about hand churned butter being sold in Temple Bar market and HSE stopped it, because of a complaint, despite the fact there were only a handful of customers for it and none of them ever complained about it
A complaint from an extremely sad individual.
Sad? More like pathetic.
Now who in the hell do the HSE think they are. Dogs have been coming into pubs up and down the country since there were pubs… Sometimes even without the owner… The auld excuse of “I’m taking the dog for a walk” will be compromised and the fabric of Irish society will probably fall apart .And what exactly is the difference between a service dog and a regular mutt from a hygiene point of view?? I’ve sat in bars where the smell of knack of the customers is worse than any dog. Jesus feckin wept… Where do I get one of those hi-vis vests for dog ??. Livid here… This aggression will not stand…
The HSE has gone to the dogs.
I was in a pub in the county cork last weekend and people started smoking in there at about 11.30
First one to light up was the owner. 6 or 7 people followed suit after that.
Rat.
“A Dublin pub has been told to stop letting dogs in”
plenty of dogs going into my local.
Did you get a lock in as well?
Hope you reported them and their business
More stupid nannying nonsense. And if drinks are actually food then surely they should be VAT free? Wouldn’t Revenue just love that!
Oh for God’s sake. The HSE should visit the UK – there are dog friendly pubs all over the country. Health risk me ar$e.
I would rather have a dog beside me than a person who is drunk.
Unfortunately, Alan, whatever the rules about dogs in pubs, I think they’d draw the line at them taking up bar space and sinking pints
Dermott, would if the dogs pay for the pints they sink? They could carry the cash on their collars, you know like the St Bernhards with their barrel of rum.
South Korea has dog and cat cafés. I went to one. They jump all over the place and the cats climb onto you. I’m happen to be alive and well after the experience. God forbid a business coming up with new ways to attract customers. Sure don’t we have the pets at home when we eat /drink.
North Korea have lots of dog friendly cafés. Unfortunately their on the menu
surely all dogs are ‘companion’ dogs
Just taken this from the FSAI website which states rules around animals being in outside seating areas ” Under national food hygiene legislation pet dogs and cats are generally not allowed into food premises, with the exception of guide/assistance/companion dogs. Whilst the outdoor seating area is strictly speaking part of the food premises, it could be argued that having a dog or cat in this area is not presenting a risk as this is not an area where food is prepared, stored, displayed or kept for sale.” In this case the bar or pub seating area is the exact same as the outdoor as its not where food is “prepared, stored, displayed or kept for sale” only served. The dogs are not in the kitchen area therefore the decision to allow well behaved dogs into the pub should lie with the pub owner. This decision is ridiculous. Poor doggies :(
But… All dogs are “companion dogs”! Loophole??
How do we get the “cure” if there is no hair of the dog
What a bunch of utter wank3rs. This PC nonsense must be stopped asap.
This has nothing to do with political correctness, this is plain nanny state Ireland in action.
HSE,sort your other problems first
A friend of mine insists her hubby brings the dog when he goes for a pint. That way he is always home on time for dinner
Cleverrrrrr.
Restaurants in France teem with dogs as their owners carry them in their handbags as we was on leads. No-one makes a fuss.
Lots of rural hotels and restaurants have the house dog strolling around the dining room.
What a pen pushing shower of filth. Most dogs would be cleaner and better behaved by some of the human dirt frequenting some premises. Also of course guide dogs and assistance dogs should be allowed but so should all dogs. Are guide dogs cleaner than other dogs. Should be management discretion. Typical Ireland act all the sure we’re great craic and easy going but this is the reality. Most of Europe and uk very dog friendly. This is a kip
Can we have a referendum Mr vradkar??
That’s ridiculous!!! I saw this first in the USA and thought it was lovely!!! I took my pooch to a hotel in Kerry for a long weekend too!! I think it’s a lovely touch. Shame on the HSE! Sort out the hospitals instead idiots!!
Nanny state gone mad
Dogs are cleaner than lots of humans..
Thought the EU rules were dogs couldn’t be in an area / premises where food was prepared – like the kitchen, but OK for them to be where it is served in the pub/ cafe / restaurant. That’s how most places in Europe allow / can have dogs in??
FFS, this country is becoming a banal, politically correct state. The limes of the HSE won’t be happy until we all eat in sterile environments. Meanwhile the cleaner we get the less defences our bodies build up to diseases.
That’s a bit wuff!!!
I’m a bulldog what do you expect
If people live in a totally sanitised society, immune systems will not be challenged sufficiently in order to develop properly. This spray kills viruses, this liquid kills 99.9% of bacteria and ban Fido from the floor of the bar. What we’ll have then is an explosion in allergic asthma & auto-immune skin disease such as eczema -oh wait, we already do!! Everyone in Dublin with a dog should go there this weekend!
This is such a shame. What a fekin nanny state we are. It’s a lovely pub and won’t be the same without a few dogs around the place.
do they make up new rules. just to give them something to do ?? really seems like it. in restaurants you must keep eggs in the fridge for
“health and safety reasons……”. but you buy them of the shelf in a super market ?? WTF
Ireland is so anti pets and anti children
My favourite one is the BBD on cheese that’s been sitting on a shelf in the factory ripening for up to two years in some cases but will magically go off within 3 days of me getting it home…
I’ve seen more than a fair share of two legged dogs down the local boozer of a Saturday night…
What’s the HSE position on rabbits and chickens ?
Or foxes! Now there’s no pub that would bar them! Keep the “bunny boilers” out all the same!
I suppose Vietnamese pot belly pigs would be right out?
Only if it’s on the menu James…
Funny. Cafes and restraunts in Germany have no issue with dogs, most pubs in Scotland have dogs in them, since when were we so fussy?
Far better now if they fixed the trolly and waiting lists.
You mean, actually doing their real job.
Technically any animal can be a service animal and technically things like depression, anxiety etc can be reasons to have one. Basically all you need to have is a letter from your doctor saying that contact with the animal is therapeutic.I actually remember an article here about two years back about people using this to bring dogs that otherwise need to be stowed onto aircraft…If I remember, people accused them of pulling the p.ss.Hows and ever if the HSE wanna play hardball I’m sure I could find a dog loving doctor that would sign off on it…
Cats should never ever be left near anything except mice and rats.
When did a drink become a food.
Hipsters will start being their Llamas in next
People need to stop talking about dog friendly pubs on social media. Dont ruinit for everyone by advertising the fact your local lets dogs in!
Xmas “drinkies”.- people are so annoying.
The “holly and ivy” brigade are probably the one’s who complained!
The dogs were too ruff.
Surely it’s the hsa not the hse that made this order
Jaysus the HSE can’t organise a decent health service patients on trollies but they are on top of banning dogs in pubs. Bloody incompetent tossers most pubs here in Brighton have no issue and have yet to hear of somebody dying! HSE me arse
Ah jaysus
Leave the dogs alone
We are in Europe, right?! Eu Regulation allows for dogs to be in pubs/restaurants. The problem here is the HSE idiots taking their own view of the regulations.
The legislation, which makes the provisions relating to dogs in food premises is contained in Regulations (EC) No 852/2004, Annex II, Chapter IX – Provisions applicable to foodstuffs (4) as below:
Adequate procedures are to be in place to control pests. Adequate procedures are also to be in place to prevent domestic animals from having access to places where food is prepared, handled or stored (or, where the competent authority so permits in special cases, to prevent such access from resulting in contamination).
The HSE as definetly more important things to do than screwing up a lovely place were dogs are welcome.
UPSTAIRS POINTS OUT HSE TALKS SHITE. Keep in dogs leave the customers outside. Less chances of drink drivers on road….
Now luv they won’t let you in
Know of one pub where they barred dogs in the hope of getting rid of its owner!
I feel a session coming on and I might need a ten hour rest after it. Have to check with my local publican and @hse if it’s OK to bring my pet TROLLEY along with me. #clowns
Maybe the overpaid failures in the HSE should do something useful for a change.
Feck that, where will Sharon and Tracy go on chislers allowance night now?
I think that I would prefer the social company of Sharon and Tracy to your’s.
Feeling is mutual Geeona, I like to hang with people who have a sense of humour.
It would be better to buy a flight, go to any country in Europe, stay in the sun and get healed than wait on any 1.5 /3 year list – e111
Am I still allowed bring my ferret for a swift half? The rules as stated above are not clear on this.
If a person with a guide dog wants to socialise in a pub, does this mean he/she not allowed in either,according to HSE clampdown?! Or maybe MPV says it’s HSE to please cat lovers and maybe the odd allergic to dog hair fellow.
Fado fado in London down in Harrow we used to frequent a pub after work where an old English bloke veteran of the war submariner , blind with is lovely retriever used to drop in daily for a pint. We befriended him and made him an honouree Irishman and his dog was renamed Dr dregs cause we used to give the dog a bowl of guiness without telling him and usually ended up packing him and the dog into the van and dropping him home . His wife had died years before and the publican was a good sort letting dogs in with owners who were out strolling . We did that for 4 years and one day he dropped dead just outside the pub doors and the dog wouldn’t let anyone near him except me who had fed him the guiness . I took Dr dregs home and adopted him as he was too old to work and had 2 good years with him . He still got his guiness every time he came to the pub .
We are in Europe, right?! Eu Regulation allows for dogs to be in pubs/restaurants. The problem here is the HSE idiots taking their own view of the legisation
The legislation, which makes the provisions relating to dogs in food premises is contained in Regulations (EC) No 852/2004, Annex II, Chapter IX – Provisions applicable to foodstuffs (4) as below:
Adequate procedures are to be in place to control pests. Adequate procedures are also to be in place to prevent domestic animals from having access to places where food is prepared, handled or stored (or, where the competent authority so permits in special cases, to prevent such access from resulting in contamination).
What a stupid intervention by the so called FSAI and the HSE ..both would be better off doing their real job than interfering with a legitimate business carrying on in a friendly manner. This is the sort of nanny state stuff that does my head in. The decision on allowing a dog in or not should rest with the owner and their customers.
A bit hypocritical coming from a Labour public telling others to do their real jobs when they can’t manage to do theirs. As for the nanny state doing their head in, well where else is the cap that fits supposed to go. ?
* Public Rep *
Why are they against dogs am assuming that the dogs in question are under supervision and not actually in the kitchen with the food. I think the government want to close all pubs.. Smoking ban dog ban what next…. They would be much better off sorting out real issues like the state of healthcare or homelessness really just shows what kind of Muppets are running this country…. I’d say if the people who have their lives 100 years ago to form this state could see the way it’s been run today they would have a thing or two to say to the government #wastofspace
I like dogs but they are worse than women in holding their drink.
On the other hand, I’ve seen some right human dogs in pubs at times.
One aspect is of interest. I think that a dog is less likely to bite and less toxic in its bite than a HSE inspector.
Damn right. That’s disgusting.
Talk about the hair of the dog
Where can you go for a hair of the dog?
Someone already said that, you dope.
No hair of the dog then….
I doubt that there will be a round of paws for this ban on dogs.
Sounds like Bigdogtry
A lot of people, never mind dogs, have their tails up about this.
Fangs for the drink.
Dogs don’t drink drive Dogs don’t glass each other Keep dogs ,ban humans. Paws for thought.
have your say