ICSA (the specialist representative body for beef, suckler and sheep producers in Ireland( Donegal County Chairman Brendan McLaughlin has warmly welcomed the Cara Hotel Group's participation in the ICSA certificate of commendation for restaurants. The announcement was made in the Ardmore Hotel today, in the presence of the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Ms Mary Coughlan, TD and the Board of Directors of Cara Hotels.

The certificate enables restaurant customers to readily see that their restaurant of choice is fully committed to serving quality Irish beef and can be applied for by any catering establishment, once they fulfill certain criteria. It was devised to enable restaurants to comply with the recent Country of Origin (Beef( labeling legislation.

"We are delighted that a firmly established business like Cara Hotels is getting behind the scheme, " said Mr Thompson. "Cara Hotels have long since recognised that serving quality Irish beef is a key reason for their success in Dublin and Donegal, and as such, ICSA is delighted to commend them on this issue. "

"We are thrilled to get an opportunity to promote Irish beef, which we believe to be the best for our guests, " said Terry McEniff, Director, Cara Hotels. "And anything that keeps our guests happy is ultimately good for business. "

The ICSA Restaurant scheme has been a great success, with over 400 restaurants on board. Registration is free, and involves a miniscule amount of bureaucracy. Applications can be applied for online, at www.icsaireland.com, or by ringing the ICSA headquarters in Portlaoise on 057 8662120.

Caption (Close-up Group( - Pictured receiving their ICSA 100% Irish Beef certificates from Minister Mary Coughlan on behalf of the Cara Hotel Group were (L - R( Terry McEniff (Mount Errigal Hotel, Letterkenny(, Elizabeth Mcintyre (Allingham Hotel, Bundoran( , Minister Mary Coughlan, Kirsty Fallis (Grand Canal Hotel, Dublin( , Sheila Baird (Ardmore Hotel, Dublin(, Fergal McEniff (Camden Court Hotel, Dublin( and Brendan McLaughlin, ICSA Donegal County Chairman.

---