Donegal Daily
  • News
  • Sport
  • Courts
  • Jobs
  • Business
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Politics
  • Features
  • Donegal County Council News
Friday 14°CSaturday 15°C

Donegal Daily Donegal Daily

sponsor banner
sponsor banner
  • News
  • Sport
  • Courts
  • Jobs
  • Business
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Politics
  • Features
  • Donegal County Council News
News

McDonald: Additional Covid restrictions need matching supports

written by Chris McNulty October 19, 2020
FacebookTweetLinkedInPrint

SINN Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald says that any additional Covid-19 restrictions imposed by the government need to be matched by supports.

McDonald, speaking on Morning Ireland, said that her party will back any additional measures introduced, but has implored the government to match those with supports for those who will be impacted.

She said that additional measures, such as the restoration of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) to €250 per week, must also be announced.

“I absolutely accept we are in a grave situation and stronger measures are required,” Deputy McDonald said.

“Not alone will we support this, I think it is a matter of great relief to have clarity on this.

“I don’t think a weekend of worry, wonder and speculation has been of any assistance to anybody so we need a decision and of course it needs to be considered and balanced.

“We have made the point time and again that additional restrictions – whatever they are – need to be matched by additional supports and protections.

“Our strong view is that acknowledging that people are going to struggle with added restrictions and then securing the roof over their heads is a good way to build that social cohesion needed from the public, and to rekindle that often-used phrase of ‘we are in this together’.”

McDonald said that a six-week period, as recommended by the National Public Health Emergency Team, would be ‘challenging’.

However, the opposition leader said that NPHET’s data should ‘shape all other decisions’.

She said: “The numbers and the data don’t lie. Some things are unpredictable but what is quite predictable is that the virus spreads really quickly and exponentially. In fact, it is so predictable that experts can model where we will be down the line if we continue on the path that we are on.”

McDonald: Additional Covid restrictions need matching supports was last modified: October 19th, 2020 by Chris McNulty
FacebookTweetLinkedInPrint

Tags:
coronaviruscovid-19level 4Level 5Mary Lou McDonaldPandemic unemployment paymentSinn Fein
Chris McNulty

Author of 'Boxing In Donegal: A History (2021)' - the definitive history of the sport in County Donegal - and 'Relentless: A Race Through Time', the 2019 memoir of former Irish Athletics Team Manager Patsy McGonagle. From St Johnston and now based in Letterkenny, Chris was a nominee for NUJ Sports Journalist of the Year in 2010. Honoured by the Donegal Boxing Board in 2016 for his coverage on the sport.

LEAVE A COMMENT

You may also like

Much loved local ecologist launches ‘Birds of...

6 hours ago

Donegal planners grant retention permission for hobbit-style...

7 hours ago

Plans for 35 new houses and apartments...

9 hours ago

Benny is still ‘harping on’ as he...

10 hours ago

Charity 5K cancelled following Inishowen road tragedy

11 hours ago

Packie Bonner to open ‘Working Over By’...

11 hours ago

East Donegal family birthdays raise over €3k...

12 hours ago

Motorists warned after oil spill in south...

13 hours ago

HSE group in Donegal honoured for work...

13 hours ago

Over 6,500 Ukrainian refugees now living across...

14 hours ago
Advertisement
Advertisement

Donegal County Council

Facebook
Donegal County Council
Advertisement
Advertisement
Donegal Daily Jobs

Read More

  • News
  • Sport
  • Courts
  • Jobs
  • Sales & Services
  • Obituaries
  • Features
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Council News

Information

  • Contact Us
  • About
  • Advertise WIth Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclaimer
  • Terms & Conditions

Our Sites

Donegal Woman
Donegal Woman
Donegal Daily

© 2025 Donegal Daily. All rights reserved.
Website by owenod


Back To Top.

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.OkPrivacy policy