Dáil should set example and #StayAtHome
The Labour Party disagrees with the decision of the Business Committee today that the Dáil would continue to sit on Thursday.
The Labour Parliamentary Party has agreed that our TDs would not attend the sitting of the Dáil for statements on Thursday as it is non-essential business and not legislation that was being proposed. They will instead support the national effort to stay at home, and not place an unnecessary burden on the Oireachtas staff, and staff of those departments who are working heroically to deal with the COVID-19 outbreak and it’s social and economic impact.
There is a provision for statements to be laid before the Dáil instead, and our health spokesperson Alan Kelly TD, and Employment Affairs and Social Protection spokesperson Ged Nash will both avail of that opportunity as that is the business that is to be discussed. They will also publish subtitled videos of their statements on social media.