Jurys Doyle under attack in Irish parliament

The Jurys Doyle hotel group came under fire in the Irish parliament in Dublin last week when a Labour Party member accused hoteliers of taking risks with staff safety.

Kathleen Lynch said people "should sit up and take notice of the risks hoteliers are taking".

Her criticism followed last month's trial, in which a Portuguese national was jailed for life for the killing of trainee manager Grainne Dillon in a robbery at the Jurys Inn hotel in Limerick last year.

Lynch told parliament that, while the trainee had only six months' experience, she was left in sole charge of more than 300 guests on the night in question. "What would have happened had a fire broken out?" she asked.

She added: "Given that this hotel group has recently announced record profits, it is not as if it cannot afford to provide adequate security for all its guests and staff."

The Health and Safety Authority, Lynch felt, should be more active in ensuring hoteliers provide secure working conditions for their staff.

Junior Minister Tom Parlon, replying, said that the Health and Safety Authority did not classify hotels as high-risk workplaces and could only mount inspections following complaints. However, he added that new legislation on safety at work, to be introduced later this year, would call for more safety training and staff consultation in all sectors.

Jurys Doyle group said its "highest priority" was the safety of staff and guests, and added that all staff received ongoing safety training.