At the start of the pandemic, student nurses were being paid to staff wards and make up the staffing shortfall in the NHS. Since September these payments stopped, despite the current wave of Covid19 putting Northern Ireland's hospitals under pressure like never before. Students Nurses work 37.5hrs per week on clinical placement at the rate of £2.86 per hour under the current bursary of £430 per month. This does not meet basic cost of living standards. Paid less than the national minimum wage. Northern Ireland bursary has not been increased whereas Scotland's bursary is increased year to year. The majority of students still have to work part time on top of placement to be able to live month to month. Due to covid placement areas students are restricted to where they can work if at all Students are working in Covid wards and are at the same risk of as a paid member of staff. Students do not receive sick pay. Many students have incurred costs from covid-19 pandemic from moving out of home due to vulnerable family members at risk. No support available. These student nurses are the future of our NHS. They deserve to be paid for the risks they are taking at the frontline of this pandemic.

The Thirty-Seventh Amendment Of The Constitution (Economic, Social And Cultural Rights) Bill 2018 would call for a referendum to have these human rights enshrined in our Constitution. They would encompass a right to adequate housing, a right to join a trade union of your choice, a right to physical and mental health and a right to enjoy scientific progress. All of which have become more important during this global pandemic.

If the Irish Government does not implement mandatory hotel quarantine: - there will be more needless suffering and lives lost - more and more variants will spread in the community, and the vaccines we have now may not be effective against these new variants - all of our sacrifices to bring numbers down will be undermined.

We need the nurses and the nurses need to be valued.

Dear, As you are aware of the prevailing situation already through this hashtag #fastTrackCitizenship , tweets, and from recent articles published in IrishTimes and Medical independent but I’ll give you a quick review of the current situation. The campaign- I am leading- is for all the immigrant healthcare workers including porters, nurses, HCAs and doctors. The purpose of the aforementioned campaign is to request the DOJ to expedite the naturalisation process for these HCWs. As you’re already aware that more than 5000 people are currently waiting for naturalisation for more than 2 years, and nearly 2300 are waiting for more than 3 years, we are afraid that with covid restrictions, things will get even worse. There will be another 1000 people who’d be applying after this lockdown and just imagine the delay which will be going to happen. I can’t hopefully believe that this is all because of covid crisis. If you check the number of people who are currently waiting, you will see that this was happening even before the current crisis but yes, things have definitely become worse as of now. During this depressing time, people have been waiting for a very long time for a little happiness and I think this (#fastTrackCitizenship) will give them a great confidence-boost and resultantly will increase their morale. They’ll be motivated instead of being anxious of their future, and will be satisfyingly happy not to go for stamps/visa and paying fees every 6 months. I wish I could do something as good to make my Irish and other EU colleagues happy and I wish, in this pandemic, I can give them something to cheer about but except from giving them my moral support, I’m not being able to do anything substantive for them. Immigrants are already being warmly welcomed by Irish people, and now the government also needs to take the initiative to do the same for these hard working, committed doctors who work here to make this country prosperous and happy. Like other natural-born citizens, they belong here, and we all belong to Ireland. Many thanks Mohsin

This is critically important because we are expected to go back to school with little to no PPE and the PPE we've had to date is substandard. This is the eye of the storm where this pandemic is and is extremely dangerous to be mixing with anyone outside of our homes let alone mixing with as many households we will be mixing with in school

The victims need access to the report in physical form for various reason including age and access to a computer. This should have been considered long before this as the victims now have to listen to all manner of commentators discuss their experiences without having access to the report.

At the moment we are set to have vaccinated 135,000 people by the end of February 2021. This is simply not enough. If we want to beat this disease and get back to somewhat normality we need to rapidly increase the amount of the vaccine being administrated and to change the way that we are doing so. We need around the clock 24hr administration of the vaccine. We need to train up and utilise all of the volunteers that we can to roll-out this vaccine to everyone possible. We need to have an online system of registration including a list for cancellations to ensure that every single dose is used. We need to aggressively tackle this disease and get a better plan than the one that we have. Take a look at Israel, they have vaccinated 1.37million of their people. We need to make sure that we give everyone the opportunity to receive the vaccine should they want to in the quickest possible time. We also need to look at the priority group system and roll-out quicker to our most needed services

The HSE and SH:24 partnered to offer free STI home test kits as part of a pilot project, to find out how online services can help support people’s sexual health. These at-home STI tests were LGBT+ inclusive and were first made available to order online for residents of County Dublin, Cork and Kerry, however, as of January 6th - less than one day after the pilot launched, the service was shut due to the unprecedented high demand. The high number of sign-ups clearly illustrates the strong support for continuing and expanding this service nationwide. This scheme is particularly necessary at present as STI clinics are closed due to COVID-19, risking long waiting lists upon re-opening, and worsened health outcomes for those who could not access testing and treatment. At-home STI tests shift those with less complex sexual health needs from clinics to an online service thus reducing clinic waiting times, is safer during COVID-19, removes transportation barriers and encourages more people to get tested due to easier access. Free STI tests removes the financial barriers to testing services. Sign the petition to show your support for continuing & expanding this scheme!

Forcing a school to remain open is hugely undermining and takes the autonomy of management from those who have been legally entrusted with the safety of the school community.

Dear Friends, I just created the petition: Ag fas le cheile! Say yes to a 100% Organic, 100% Chemical-free and 100% GMO-free Ireland. It would mean a lot to me if you took a moment to add your name because: A journey’s end matters not, for it is the journey itself that inspires, enriches and delights. As I took “the road less travelled” 18 months ago, I could not have imagined the amount of learning to be had on this road; for I am now less dependent on certain modern conveniences than I was in May 2019. Now in November 2020, I am • 100% shampoo-free • 100% clothes detergent-free • 100% washing-up liquid free • 100% dishwasher liquid free • 100% all-purpose cleaner free • 99% bin-free. In short, grey water that leaves my house is virtually chemical free with a minimal toxic load to the environment. My garden is 100% Organic, 100% Chemical-free and 100% GMO-free and has been for about 10 years. With the continued support from local Clare businesses and shops, Clare media and a waste prevention grant from Clare County Council, Operation de-Plastification with its “slim your bin or bin your bin challenge” has been able to inform, encourage, support and lead-by-example on the quest to waste reduction, particularly plastic related waste in the shape of single-use plastic bottles and plastic packaging. With the submission to Clare County Council for the Clare Local Development Plan 2022 – 2028 "100% Organic, 100% Chemical-free and 100% GMO-free", I am hoping to sow the seed for a different Clare, and by extension a different Ireland, to highlight a path that has been taken by other countries successfully and to encourage as many people of all ages and guises, including businesses and politicians, to re-think their habits and attitudes in relation to • everyday conveniences • everyday routines • everyday practices to aid the recovery of our planet, with an intact environment which in turn will support our future. The attempt to combine the Operation de-Plastification campaign and the vision for a post-pandemic County Clare, has generated the “ag fás le chéile” petition, where shoppers, sellers and consumers can voice, with their signature, their request for an enduring “green” Ireland. The petition aims to address all people living in Ireland: • Shoppers: we want to buy local, sustainable, affordable, nutritious, delicious, organic, plastic-packaging-free, chemical-free and gmo-free goods • Sellers: we want to sell local, sustainable, affordable, nutritious, delicious, organic, plastic-packaging-free, chemical-free and gmo-free goods • Consumers: we want to enjoy local, sustainable, affordable, nutritious, delicious, organic, plastic-packaging-free, chemical-free and gmo-free goods Assuring our environment’s and our survival, “the road not taken” may lead to a life and life-style where less is more, as less is more than enough in my experience. With the kindest regards, Cornelia Wahli Operation de-Plastification Campaign Slim your Bin or Bin your Bin Challenge “Ag fás le chéile” Petition ____________________________________________________________________ https://my.uplift.ie/petitions/ag-fas-le-cheile-say-yes-to-a-100-organic-chemical-free-and-gmo-free-ireland Real change happens when everyday people like you and I come together and stand up for what we believe in. Together we can reach lots of people and help create change around this important issue. After you've signed the petition, could you also take a moment to share it with others? It's really easy – all you need to do is forward this email. Thank you!

We have proven the demand for a bike park in Tralee. Our intention is to have this park open to the public, free to use and designed to be accessible to all. Any age and any ability level. We have already secured the backing of Tralee Councillors and Kerry County Council have placed the project on the local area plan. Now we need to see the wheels begin to turn and this project get into gear!