Sinn Féin Leader on Dublin City Council and European election candidate for Dublin, Daithí Doolan, has criticised comments made by Labour Party European candidate Aodhán Ó Ríordáin about sick pay for workers.

Responding to Deputy Ó Ríordáin’s comments made in the Dáil this week, Cllr Doolan said:

“The Labour Party’s European election candidate Aodhán Ó Ríordáin made much play of criticising the government’s approach to sick pay for workers in the Dáil this week.

“This was an act of clear hypocrisy, given Aodhán Ó Ríordáin’s own record during the last Labour government. He sat at the cabinet table as a junior minister while sick pay for workers was cut.

“Aodhán was part of a government that was appalling for workers’ rights and resulted in a real deterioration of conditions for ordinary workers. He can’t conveniently forget this and try to pull the wool over workers’ eyes.

“For Sinn Féin, workers’ rights are not negotiable. For far too long, workers and their rights have been an add-on or an afterthought.

“Sinn Féin believes that it is time for workers and workers’ rights to be front and centre of the political agenda. Workers need a government that is on their side.

“A strong team of Sinn Féin MEPs would stand up for workers and ensure their rights are strengthened and protected.”