The restaurant in Delvin Mart has been served with a closure order by the Health Service Executive (HSE).

The order, which was delivered on 22 November, stated: “Rodent droppings were evident in the kitchen on the floor, on shelving and in a container storing utensils. The conditions observed pose or are likely to pose a serious risk of contamination rendering the foodstuffs in this area unfit or injurious to health.”

Issued under the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) Act 1998, it requires “the immediate closure of all or part of the food premises, or all or some of its activities”.

It occurs in cases where an authorised officer deems there to be a grave or immediate danger to public health.

An order may be lifted when the premises has improved to the satisfaction of the authorised officer.

Failure to comply with an improvement order may also result in the issuing of a closure order.

Closures

In the month of November, a total of 13 closure orders and one prohibition order were served to food businesses by the FSAI.

FSAI chief executive Dr Pamela Byrne said that food businesses must operate strict food safety procedures at all times and that they need to be extra vigilant during this busy time of year.

She said: “Fourteen enforcement orders in one month is an unacceptable number.

"The reasons for the enforcement orders having to be served are all easily preventable in the first place and food businesses should not allow their standards to slip.”

She added that during the busy Christmas period, food businesses must be especially vigilant to ensure compliance with the law.