Fine Gael TD Patrick Donovan
This afternoon.
The Dáil’s Business Committee will meet at noon, while the Dáil will meet with a much reduced number of TDs at 2pm to discuss health and social protection matters concerning the coronavirus.
Further to this…
I fully support parliamentary accountability and the need for all Members to voice their concerns, however for at least the next while, in accordance with the advice the Govt gave last week from the CMO, today’s sitting which will not have votes or legislation should not go ahead
— Patrick O’Donovan (@podonovan) April 2, 2020
I wrote to the Business Committee of the Dáil through the Ceann Comhairle, that today’s proposed sitting not go ahead in the interests of safety. The risk attached to all who would attend and those they would contact after, far outweigh the reasons given for the sitting.
— Patrick O’Donovan (@podonovan) April 2, 2020
Meanwhile…
I’ll take the advice of our public health experts & stay at home as much as I can.
Mere ‘statements’ to the Dáil are not in any way essential. Emergency legislation is a different matter.
My team & I continue to work from home to assist constituents & our country. @labour https://t.co/w83J0FxKUE
— Ged Nash TD (@geraldnash) March 31, 2020
The @fiannafailparty parliamentary party held entire meeting via conference call yesterday. Recalling the Dáil for “statements” tomorrow is just grandstanding imo. Statements mean no votes, no laws, no replies, no outcomes, just a lot of speeches. At request of SF & PBP I believe https://t.co/CTJMoAkyMs
— James Lawless (@lawlessj) April 1, 2020
This is all grandstanding nonsense.
Oireachtas briefings are happening all the time.Every TD knows what ‘Statements in the House’ really means – filling in time.
Sitting today with no legislation puts staff in harm’s way unnecessarily.
We should #StayHomeSaveLives.@labour https://t.co/DMfaFxMHtQ
— Aodhán Ó Ríordáin (@AodhanORiordain) April 2, 2020
And on the plinth…
Brid Smith says one idea that needs to be pursued and scrutinised is that the Pandemic Payment is only payable to those aged 18-66, meaning those who have lost work have no extra support – she says this is prescribed by the law and only Dáil sittings can address it properly
— Gavan Reilly (@gavreilly) April 2, 2020
For what it’s worth the Dept of Social Protection tells me this is not the case, and the means test for supplementary welfare has been changed so that those outside 18-66 who has lost income can now apply
— Gavan Reilly (@gavreilly) April 2, 2020
SF and PBP engaging in gesture politics??
I don’t believe you
all of your comments bring a particular gesture to mind
Excellent top picture! Well done that photographer.
positioning is the largest part of photography. It might have been luck but I always err on the side of a good eye.
…when the testing resumes would somebody prioritise Irish democracy because it seems to be showing symptoms the virus…
Patrick Donovan
Another Fine Gael Junior
Who has nothing to say
And says it
after Oscar Wilde
I’d imagine that every FFG grunt and hack up and down the country looks at O’Donovan in awe and thinks “one day that’ll be me”.
Every time I see young Patrick I tend to come out in a rash. Any chance he might self isolate for a few months? theres a grand little island just outside of Foynes that would suit. A suitable law could be passed.