Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

I am sorry for my interruption of Deputy Pringle earlier regarding the queue, or the pecking order.

It is amazing that it is less than a week since nurses and the leaders of the INMO and PNA, namely Phil Ní Sheaghdha and Peter Hughes, respectively, were in the Visitors Gallery to hear us discuss for two hours the nurses strike. We felt it was significant enough for this House to discuss its implications. After that, on the Saturday, we saw one of the most amazing demonstrations of workers' power on the streets of Dublin. I reckon that 50,000 to 60,000 turned up. I do not believe that is overstating the number. It very much reminded me of the Repeal the 8th movement. I was thinking about the role the Minister played in that and how, after we won the vote, less than a year ago, some people were shouting "I fancy Simon" and carrying placards about how wonderful Simon was.

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