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O Connell Street in Dublin as Ex-Hurricane Ophelia batters Ireland. Sam Boal/Rollingnews.ie

Should employees go to work during a red weather alert? Leo agrees to issue guidelines

Brendan Howlin said employers were confused yesterday as to whether to close for the day or not.

THE TAOISEACH HAS committed to drafting guidelines to outline to businesses in the private sector what a code red alert means and how employers should deal with their employees in such a situation.

Following the issuing of a nationwide red alert ahead of Storm Ophelia, there was a further announcement that all schools, creches and universities were to close.

The National Emergency Co-ordination Group advised that people remain indoors and stay safe.

However, there was confusion as to whether all businesses should close, and if people should go to work or remain at home.

Labour leader Brendan Howlin today commended the government of their preparations and action for Storm Ophelia, however, he said lessons should be learned from the event.

Howlin told the Taoiseach that there should be a clear plan as to what should be done in the case of a red alert, stating that some employers were unclear about what to do and whether to close and tell their workers to stay at home.

Today, the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) said it would not tolerate employers deducting pay or insisting that employees take annual leave, as a result of having to stay away from work yesterday due to ex-Hurricane Ophelia.

David Hughes of the INMO said decision to declare a red weather warning was taken to save lives.

It is most regrettable that health employers are now seeking to penalise nurses and midwives who adhered to the warning or could not attend their workplace yesterday because of the effects of the storm.

Closed for the day 

“On Sunday night, we saw many companies unsure how to deal with their employees. Should we not have a clear understanding throughout the economy, as is the case in the education sector, of what should be done in the event of a red alert?” he asked.

Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney was questioned by Sean O’Rourke on RTÉ Radio One yesterday as to whether the government should have stepped in and announced a nationwide emergency, insisting that all businesses close.

Instead, the matter was left to individual employers to decide upon. It was put to the minister that people who had made their way to work in the morning then found themselves with no way to get home due to all public transport services announcing that they were to cease operations for the entire day.

Questions were also being asked as to whether employers had a duty to pay their employees if they chose not to go to work.

Private sector workers

Howlin called on the government to carry out a review of Storm Ophelia and how the government performed and to commit to issuing guidelines to the private sector as to what a red alert means for them and their employees.

This was the first time there was a red alert nationwide, the Taoiseach told the Dáil this afternoon.

“One decision was to close schools and that was made within a few hours of the national red alert issuing. A decision was made that we could not leave it up to individual school boards and so on to decide and that it had to be done on a national basis. It caused genuine confusion for some people in the private sector because it was unclear to people as to whether they were to go into work or not.

“The advice that we gave people was not to do any essential travel but going to work is essential for many people.

“We will have to develop a better understanding of what a red alert means beyond the public sector and what it means in the private sector,” he acknowledged.

“We need to know, when events like this might occur, what specifically is expected of employers and employees in the event of a red alert affecting their area of work. A commitment by the Taoiseach to provide such guidelines would be very welcome,” said Howlin.

The Taoiseach said he is happy to give that commitment, stating:

If guidelines do not exist already, which I do not think they do, it would be a very good idea to issue guidelines as to what alerts mean in many different circumstances, particularly for private sector employment.

Varadkar said they would work the new guidelines into the review of public services and government services during Storm Ophelia, which Cabinet this morning agreed to undertake. He said the issue of guidelines would be considered at the next meeting of the Office of Emergency Planning in November.

This morning’s Cabinet meeting also discussed the clean up operation for Storm Ophelia, with the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, Eoghan Murphy, updating the Cabinet on the national emergency co-ordination group.

 Ophelia aftermath: Schools will reopen tomorrow>

LIVE: ‘Lessons must be learned’ in aftermath of Storm Ophelia>

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    Mute Kieron Meehan
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    Mar 29th 2019, 6:43 PM

    The people of the six counties voted to remain. Who represents them?

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    Mute Laura Walsh
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    Mar 29th 2019, 6:51 PM

    @Kieron Meehan: certainly not the DUP

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    Mute Brianán McBride
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    Mar 29th 2019, 7:03 PM

    @Kieron Meehan: DUP canvassed to leave now he is saying maybe they should stay. Sinn Féin did feck all canvassing until close to the vote when they canvassed to remain, they came across as clueless.

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    Mute Brianán McBride
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    Mar 29th 2019, 7:05 PM

    @Brianán McBride: # Nigel Dodds of DUP

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    Mute Niall Ó Cofaigh
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    Mar 29th 2019, 7:20 PM

    @Kieron Meehan: many of those chose not to be represented … By voting for and electing abstentionist Westminster candidates. So what they think or want can have no bearing on the brexit outcome unless their elected representatives choose to take up their seats in Westminster and take part in the debate and vote.

    Everyone can take their own view on this principal and tactic but it is my opinion that the debate and votes in Westminster concern Northern Ireland’s future and maybe taking part in the debate at least would be better than allowing the DUP to represent them and their constituents on this, effectively, constitutional issue.

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    Mute Caped Crusader
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    Mar 29th 2019, 7:26 PM

    @Kieron Meehan: and Roscommon voted against same sex marriage but it doesn’t mean they can outlaw it in that county. NI is part of the UK and the vote was UK wide. Unfortunate for the North but that is the way it works. After any vote a large number of people will be left unhappy but majority rules

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    Mute Kieran
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    Mar 29th 2019, 9:09 PM

    @Caped Crusader: ah now, down with that sort of conmon sense around here. You’ll get no thanks for it

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    Mute Paul Shepherd
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    Mar 30th 2019, 4:33 AM

    @Kieron Meehan: abstentionists and brexiteers apparently……in other words, nobody.

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    Mute Geoff Dolan
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    Mar 30th 2019, 8:36 AM

    @Caped Crusader:

    However, Northern Ireland. Scotland and Wales aren’t mere counties of England; they are constituent nations of the United Kingdom.

    A UK-wide referendum should have initiated another voting mechanism for an important decision such as Brexit, instead of the people of Northern Ireland and Scotland being hostage to a first-past-the-post system that favours only the interests, and/or whims thereof, of English voters

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    Mute Rory Quinn
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    Mar 30th 2019, 10:30 AM

    @Kieron Meehan: unfortunately for them that idiot Foster and the DUP. Sinn Fein should make an exception and attend parliament in London.

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    Mute iohanx
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    Mar 29th 2019, 6:55 PM

    They need to leave with no deal and let it all unfold. Be done with it.

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    Mute bmul
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    Mar 29th 2019, 7:49 PM

    @iohanx: and we get hammered great idea

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    Mute iohanx
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    Mar 29th 2019, 9:39 PM

    @bmul: it’s not an idea.

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    Mute wattsed56
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    Mar 29th 2019, 10:09 PM

    @iohanx: That’s exactly what folks that voted for Brexit wanted all along. Despite BBC, Sky, Ch4 News etc…

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    Mute bmul
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    Mar 30th 2019, 4:10 AM

    @wattsed56: so you speak for 17.4 million

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    Mute iohanx
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    Mar 30th 2019, 5:41 AM

    @bmul: no.

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    Mute Skybloo
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    Mar 29th 2019, 6:59 PM

    The MPs, and the British public have no clue what their EU membership entails.
    At the moment, Conservative MPs are signed up to a crash course on what the EU customs union is before indicative votes on Monday. I kid you not … at 11th hour 59th minute they decide to educate themselves a little bit

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    Mute Devilsavocado
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    Mar 29th 2019, 7:09 PM

    How about we just let them do whatever the hell they are going to do and realise that we really don’t have a say in the matter, give it time, they will make a mess of the whole thing and shortly afterScotland will vote to leave the UK and will, and then a majority of people and business in the north will realise the union is not the best place to be and a united Ireland will be a few short years away,,, this Brexit could easily be the death of Great Britain,,,,get the popcorn people,, we could be watching a big moment in history unfold….(maybe) :)

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    Mute David A. Murray
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    Mar 29th 2019, 6:47 PM

    The reason I’d advocate a 2nd referendum (and I accept that the arguments given against doing this in comments here are valid) is to ask the public if they have any confidence in their politicians to sort this absolute mess out. Also, can David Cameron be placed in a glass booth in the House of Commons during Brexit sessions?

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    Mute sean o'dhubhghaill
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    Mar 29th 2019, 6:50 PM

    @David A. Murray: Good suggestion for Cameron. This is ALL his fault.

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    Mute Martin Meyler
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    Mar 29th 2019, 6:51 PM

    @David A. Murray: or possibly the stocks, outside Parliament?

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    Mute Roy Dowling
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    Mar 29th 2019, 7:12 PM

    @sean o’dhubhghaill: actually it’s the 17 odd million who voted yes fault.

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    Mute Niall Ó Cofaigh
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    Mar 29th 2019, 7:27 PM

    @David A. Murray: I wonder how a vote now would pan out. Most people under the age of 21 now did not have a vote. That could be over 2 million added to the group of people that tended to vote stay . And some of the older people have passed on and there was a greater tendency for older people to vote go.

    Interesting idea that the outcome could be different even if no one changed their vote but because the electorate changed so much.

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    Mute Barry Somers
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    Mar 29th 2019, 7:42 PM

    @sean o’dhubhghaill: easy to blame Cameron.

    The real fault lays square at the feet of UK citizens, they fault in the one job they had…. To education themselves.

    As voters we have one job, research and understand. If you vote based on quick sound bites and daily mail headlines you are a idiot.

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    Mute Vocal Outrage
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    Mar 29th 2019, 7:48 PM

    @Roy Dowling: I thought the original yes campaign became the remain campaign as the question was changed

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    Mute Stevie Doran
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    Mar 29th 2019, 7:51 PM

    @David A. Murray: we’ve had 2nd referendums, no problem

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    Mute Barry Somers
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    Mar 29th 2019, 8:07 PM

    @Stevie Doran: indeed we have.

    Two refs with the same name (nice) but we voted on different conditions

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    Mute sean o'dhubhghaill
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    Mar 29th 2019, 8:55 PM

    @Barry Somers: Agreed. Fair Point.

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    Mute Liam Carlin
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    Mar 29th 2019, 8:58 PM

    @Barry Somers: exactly , that’s why democracy doesn’t work , people should have t take a test before they’re allowed to vote

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    Mute Liam Carlin
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    Mar 29th 2019, 9:01 PM

    @Barry Somers: No we didn’t , we voted no to the fires treaty and voted yes to an AMENDED treaty. The uk vote was a simple in or out vote. There’s no way to formulate a wording which doesn’t make a second vote undemocratic

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    Mute Barry Somers
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    Mar 29th 2019, 9:42 PM

    @Liam Carlin: you vote on May’s deal or remain. Very simple.

    Ref outcome in the UK is not legally binding anyway, but at least the vote would finally give a clear direction to the aimless UK government.

    Right now they are a laughing stock of the world

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    Mute Stevie Doran
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    Mar 29th 2019, 7:05 PM

    Just retire Theresa, you’ll never win. Go on a cruise and become a local MP, enjoy the rest of your life away from the toxic cesspit of British politics.

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    Mute Chemical Brothers
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    Mar 29th 2019, 8:17 PM

    @Stevie Doran: She’s playing a blinder

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    Mute Brian McDonnell
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    Mar 29th 2019, 7:12 PM

    I fear I predicted that there would always be a Hard Brexit, that the UK is far too evenly split over remain or leave, with far too many factions in either camp, if Parliament is at dead lock, then that is just a true representation of it’s people.
    Just like the Titanic (which incidentally sank on the 15th April 1912, not the 12th as per the article) the UK’s economy is soon too go down in very chilly waters, and it will be the poorest who will suffer disproportionately.

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    Mute iohanx
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    Mar 29th 2019, 7:27 PM

    @Brian McDonnell: Any half wit politician knows the score over there. Sitting on fences because if/when the exit with no deal arrives there will be a new political movement and possible party to Join the EU and they’ll have a referendum in their manefesto knowing full well there are 16 million votes to be had.

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    Mute iohanx
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    Mar 29th 2019, 7:30 PM

    manifesto

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    Mute wattsed56
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    Mar 29th 2019, 10:12 PM

    @Brian McDonnell: Why will the poorer suffer?
    Facts? – just after the referendum the country was supposed to be up creek without a paddle.

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    Mute Adam Kelly
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    Mar 29th 2019, 10:52 PM

    @wattsed56: Britain is already losing 1 billion pounds per week in lost economic growth as a result of brexit.
    That’s why.

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    Mute Chris hancock
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    Mar 30th 2019, 11:37 AM

    @Adam Kelly: a speculative metric then. What does it lose in sovereignty per week?

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    Mute Doire
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    Mar 29th 2019, 9:51 PM

    As a northerner we/I have come to accept that the failed project that is Northern Ireland must collapse to its knees in order to achieve a united Ireland. Its well on its way.

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    Mute Oliver Jumelle
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    Mar 29th 2019, 7:06 PM

    Titanic hit the Berg at 11:40pm on April 14th. she sank at 2:20am April 15. Do your research!

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    Mute Mick Rooney (TIPM)
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    Mar 29th 2019, 7:24 PM

    @Oliver Jumelle: Correct. April 14th (ship’s time). A rather clumsy and foolish mistake to try and be clever. If you are going to make such an allusion in an article – might help to do basic fact-checking.

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    Mute Sean O'C
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    Mar 29th 2019, 8:28 PM

    Its like watching a slow motion car crash combined with sticking your finger in your eye again, and again, and again.

    Jez, you have to hand the members of the House of Commons, they get a gold medal for feckin it up !!

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    Mute John Caplis
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    Mar 29th 2019, 7:58 PM

    Let them eat Walkers crisps!

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    Mute ianglen
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    Mar 29th 2019, 7:05 PM

    Donald Tusk’s going “tsk tsk”.

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    Mute Micheal S. O' Ceilleachair
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    Mar 29th 2019, 8:09 PM

    @ianglen:

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    Mute THE DUKE
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    Mar 29th 2019, 11:28 PM
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    Mute TheWhitelunalion
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    Mar 29th 2019, 9:01 PM

    The UK MPs are a absolute disgrace they are more worried with lining their pockets than doing what the people want, which is to leave the EU. If there is an election , the people should vote for UKIP. the same as we should vote for Irexit.

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    Mute bmul
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    Mar 29th 2019, 9:21 PM

    @TheWhitelunalion: troll

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    Mute Mary Cull
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    Mar 29th 2019, 9:39 PM

    @bmul: talking to yourself again.?

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    Mute TheWhitelunalion
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    Mar 30th 2019, 11:27 AM

    @bmul: I believe your a Russian bot.

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    Mute wattsed56
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    Mar 29th 2019, 10:17 PM

    Might want to wait until Angela Merkel arrives in Dublin next week. She isn’t coming for a trip around Temple Bar. She doesn’t normally travel a lot btw.. Maybe something to have a chat about Leo

    3
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    Mute John Caplis
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    Mar 29th 2019, 7:58 PM

    Let them eat Walkers crisps!

    3
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    Mute THE DUKE
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    Mar 29th 2019, 10:19 PM

    Getting bored of watching this crazy brexit. Just leave

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    Mute Johnny Conway
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    Mar 30th 2019, 9:37 PM

    Looks like it will drag on for another few years of defeated votes and misery.
    The living dead alright or the walking dead for the media news viewers…

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    Mute sandra clifford
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    Mar 30th 2019, 8:31 PM

    The ppl voted to leave the EU so let them go

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    Mute Nedwerd
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    Mar 30th 2019, 12:33 AM

    That last paragraph should read

    No deal

    A “no-deal scenario on 12 April is now a likely scenario”, the European Commission has said in a statement after the vote…although no one really believes this and it is widely known that this is the EU playing hardball.

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