There needs to be accountability. We've been highlighting issues for the past six months. Dark clouds gathering for education - potential strike by school secretaries; ASTI balloting members; and no capacity for social distancing in schools could see closures. @1GaryGannon #twip There is a clear distinction between what we saw with young people in Galway and the scenes we witnessed on Grafton Street yesterday. @1GaryGannon #TWiP

Some maternity hospitals in Dublin have eased restrictions, yet elsewhere it’s the opposite. Women are alone until they are in ‘active labour’. I spoke to a woman this morning who endured 23 hours of labour without support from a loved one. @HollyCairnsTD I know public health is the priority, as it should be, but it’s difficult for people to understand why you are allowed to attend a wedding with 49 other people, but in some instances you can’t attend a prenatal scan with your partner. @HollyCairnsTD

How you can say there are reasonable grounds if somebody is just standing in a queue at an airport? Social welfare controls must be within the law. @WhitmoreJen on @TodayRadioRTE #todayrte There's a level of meanness coming into the narrative. This also happened during recession when there was a targeting of certain groups of people. Divisiveness not good for the country. @WhitmoreJen @TodayRadioRTE #todayrte

Our co-leader @RoisinShortall up now in Dáil. Speech follows: At the outset I want to congratulate Taoiseach. Taoiseach Micheál Martin will take a bit of getting used to! But on a personal note wish you well, you’ve waited long time for this & for you & your family, it is a great honour. I also congratulate all of the new Cabinet Ministers.

.@CathMurphyTD begins her speech at today’s historic Dáil sitting in Dublin’s Convention Centre "This is truly a historical day, not least that we are convened here in this modern building separated from each other because of Covid-19 to vote on the proposals for Taoiseach. While this is historical nothing about it is normal."

.@HollyCairnsTD raised the issue of #Flood management in #Dáil highlighting the need for a holistic government response and a commitment to working with affected communities in creating robust flood defences and mitigation strategies #ClimateChange Too often, poor planning and inaction over years has resulted in flooding, which forces communities into accepting highly-invasive and expensive infrastructure when simpler measures combined with good planning could have avoided and alleviated flooding.
@HollyCairnsTDT

.@HollyCairnsTD asks Minister Ring to provide support under the #coivd19 Stability fund for community and voluntary orgs that have been severely impacted by pandemic - the groups that have done incredible work supporting vulnerable people . Abdication of responsibility to properly fund disadvantaged communities & vulnerable groups. The state outsources the provision of services to over-stretched organisations, dedicated volunteers, and people's generosity. @HollyCairnsTD

#COVID19 9 has revealed & heightened inequalities. It has disproportionately impacted the vulnerable. Poorer and disadvantaged communities have vastly higher contraction and death rates. @HollyCairnsTD We can see this in our nursing homes, direct provision centres, and meat processing plants. The elderly, people with disabilities, migrants and low-paid workers, are too easily overlooked. The pandemic has highlighted these neglected areas, it did not create them" @HollyCairnsTD

.@HollyCairnsTD talks of the importance of planning policies supporting small business which are the backbone of our towns and villages - and asks Minister Murphy why Cork County Council’s is persisting in developing a massive retail centre despite Planning Regulator's objection People need dependable jobs. For generations, shops on main streets have been providing them better than conglomerates ever can, and with that - comes so much more: vibrant high streets, strong communities, and places that attract visitors.

This really is a time for Marshall Plan thinking. Spanish proposal for a €1.5trillion Recovery Fund underpinned by a perpetual bond rather than loans would avoid adding to national debts, avoid austerity, and bring solidarity at #European level. @CathMurphyTD Can't repeat past mistakes of austerity when we needed to invest in housing, health, sustainable forms of transport, retrofitting buildings, in modernising our infrastructure. #Europe wont get a second chance - this is make or break. @CathMurphyTD

Our co-leader @RoisinShortall will join the #TWIP panel (from afar!) on the programme startimg shortly @rtetwip “LC students can’t be left waiting until June for a decision. The virus is stressful enough for young people, they need clarity.” #LeavingCert2020 -@RoisinShortall