Good Food Ireland, the body which promotes Irish agri-food in hotels and restaurants, has announced a new appointment to the role of director of quality assurance.

The Bord Bia supported body has appointed qualified chef Paul Carey to the role. He has worked in the food and tourism sector for over 30 years, both in Ireland and internationally.

As well as being a chef, Carey is also a graduate of the Shannon College of Hotel Management.

As I travel around Ireland meeting such committed people I am inspired every time by their passion and innovation.

“They want to give their customers the very best food and drink experience and work closely in partnership with local Irish producers,” Carey said.

He added: “This is my dream job and I very much look forward to working with the team to continue raising standards and giving recognition to those businesses for what they do so very well.”

Meanwhile, Margaret Jeffares, founder of Good Food Ireland, said: “Driving and maintaining standards has never been so important… The sustainable commitments to using Irish ingredients and local produce has become more popular as it now presents a viable and commercial proposition.

Since the Covid-19 pandemic we have seen a great increase in the support for ‘local’ and now, with a possibility of no-deal Brexit, this support will become even more necessary.

“However, there is a growing battle for trust among consumers, so it is imperative that standards are transparent and truthful,” Jeffares added.