Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I want to raise an issue relating to workers, prior to the Government making its decisions on what is going to happen around Christmas. We have not had a chance to chat about this but I encourage the Tánaiste to extend the period for travel between counties from 2 or 3 January to 4 or 5 January. Many workers, particularly healthcare workers, who do not have children work through Christmas and the new year period is more important to them because they give up their time at Christmas for people with kids. I just wanted to say that.

The real issue I wish to raise relates to student nurses. Overnight, 12,000 people have signed the petition from the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation, INMO, on this matter. Everybody in the country knows this Christmas will be different. These student nurses have done everything for us over the last eight months. They have been incredible. One of the best Christmas presents this Government could give workers is to show solidarity with these extraordinary people who have done so much on the front line over the last number of months and pay them what they deserve, or make some contribution towards that.

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