Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Leo Varadkar and Simon Harris out canvassing for a Yes vote. Sam Boal

Taoiseach asks employers to be 'flexible' on Friday so staff can get home to vote

Varadkar said some people have to make long journeys home to vote.

TAOISEACH LEO VARADKAR has urged employers to be flexible with their staff on Friday in order to allow people to get home to vote.

He said many voters will have to make long journeys back to their hometown to vote, and urged employers to give workers enough time to ensure they can exercise their right to vote.

During Leaders’ Questions, Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin said over 125,000 people have registered on the supplementary register, adding that many of them are young people.

He said many students have to make their way home to vote, which can be challenge.

“I ask the Taoiseach to join with me in asking employers to be flexible… It is good for our democracy,” he said.

Leo Varadkar said he wanted to echo his comments, adding that Martin made a very good suggestion in appealing to employers to facilitate staff who want to participate in the referendum.

“I hope there will be a big turnout. In the referendum in 1983, only 55% of people voted. I hope more people will take part in the upcoming referendum, an important exercise in democracy. I very much appeal to employers to allow their staff to make it to the polling stations on Friday,” he said.

He said the polls are open at 7am and close at 10pm in order to maximise participation by the public.

I was knocking on doors in Clonsilla in my constituency last night and met somebody from Westmeath who will be going home to vote. It does not take a long time to get from Blanchardstown to Westmeath but there are people who will be travelling to west Cork, Donegal and other places.
These are very long journeys and I hope employers will offer some flexibility to people in that regard, no matter how they decide to vote.

In the last Leaders’ Questions in which the Taoiseach has the opportunity to speak about the referendum, he thanked Micheál Martin, Mary Lou McDonald, Brendan Howlin and the other party leaders for their support for this referendum proposition.

TheJournal.ie / YouTube

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
82 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Madra
    Favourite Madra
    Report
    May 10th 2019, 8:39 AM

    Oh deer

    115
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mushy Peas
    Favourite Mushy Peas
    Report
    May 10th 2019, 9:14 AM

    @Madra: that’s probably his/her reaction to what appears to be a large election poster

    60
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ian Holmes
    Favourite Ian Holmes
    Report
    May 10th 2019, 8:48 AM

    Probably won’t pay for a ticket either … to deer .

    104
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Charles McDuck
    Favourite Charles McDuck
    Report
    May 10th 2019, 8:37 AM

    Eff you deputy Stag, eff you

    150
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute bill2345
    Favourite bill2345
    Report
    May 10th 2019, 10:25 AM

    @Charles McDuck: a classic

    17
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tony Donoghue
    Favourite Tony Donoghue
    Report
    May 10th 2019, 2:01 PM

    @Charles McDuck: are u thinking of the deer in the Phoenix Park?

    12
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Edmund Murphy
    Favourite Edmund Murphy
    Report
    May 10th 2019, 8:53 AM

    These wild stag do’s are always causing trouble on the dart.

    83
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute paul kelly
    Favourite paul kelly
    Report
    May 10th 2019, 9:52 AM

    Where does the buck stop?

    63
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute jamesdecay
    Favourite jamesdecay
    Report
    May 10th 2019, 8:48 AM

    When he held up services, was he wearing a mask?

    “They sika him here. They sika him there…”

    59
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Deborah Blacoe
    Favourite Deborah Blacoe
    Report
    May 10th 2019, 9:14 AM

    They’re trying to get a DART to Howth to visit Deerpark.

    60
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Quentin Moriarty
    Favourite Quentin Moriarty
    Report
    May 10th 2019, 5:42 PM

    @Deborah Blacoe: making a break for it after the last cull

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Al.Dunne
    Favourite Al.Dunne
    Report
    May 10th 2019, 9:10 AM

    It’s deer enuff as is !!

    39
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Gerard Doyle
    Favourite Gerard Doyle
    Report
    May 10th 2019, 9:39 AM

    Even Doe it could be a deer problem

    31
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ken O'Sullivan
    Favourite Ken O'Sullivan
    Report
    May 10th 2019, 10:15 AM

    You take the North Bound DART to Connolly and switch to the Red Line Luas back to the Phoenix Park………

    36
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Del Teeling
    Favourite Del Teeling
    Report
    May 10th 2019, 9:14 AM

    Ban stag parties

    21
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tony Donoghue
    Favourite Tony Donoghue
    Report
    May 10th 2019, 12:31 PM

    Have they a vegetarian option in first class if one doesn’t partake of venison?

    11
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Del Teeling
    Favourite Del Teeling
    Report
    May 10th 2019, 9:14 AM

    Bloody stag parties

    19
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tony Donoghue
    Favourite Tony Donoghue
    Report
    May 10th 2019, 12:29 PM

    @Del Teeling: you’re very anti stag parties, what happened? Was your future husband tied up naked to a cactus in Vegas

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Bill Clay
    Favourite Bill Clay
    Report
    May 10th 2019, 9:00 AM

    Probably House Baratheon‘s fault

    10
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Shelly Levine
    Favourite Shelly Levine
    Report
    May 10th 2019, 10:33 AM

    Doh!

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Gerard Doyle
    Favourite Gerard Doyle
    Report
    May 10th 2019, 9:37 AM

    Deery me

    10
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute HuffnPuff
    Favourite HuffnPuff
    Report
    May 10th 2019, 10:27 AM

    All this fawn-ing over the DART delays…..

    12
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Gerard Doyle
    Favourite Gerard Doyle
    Report
    May 10th 2019, 9:29 AM

    Train delays “O Deer”

    8
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute sean o'dhubhghaill
    Favourite sean o'dhubhghaill
    Report
    May 10th 2019, 11:22 AM

    For a Sika to end up on the DART line he must be blind! Clearly has no-eye deer where he is.

    8
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Garrett Colreavy
    Favourite Garrett Colreavy
    Report
    May 10th 2019, 10:41 AM

    Oh deer oh deer

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute patrick hughes
    Favourite patrick hughes
    Report
    May 10th 2019, 12:35 PM

    Rail fares are too deer ? and they made a hash of that one

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ger
    Favourite Ger
    Report
    May 10th 2019, 4:23 PM

    In fairness its more catchy than murder on the dance floor

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ronan Mac Sweeney
    Favourite Ronan Mac Sweeney
    Report
    May 10th 2019, 6:35 PM

    Where the feck did they come from in this part of town

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute paul kelly
    Favourite paul kelly
    Report
    May 10th 2019, 9:45 PM

    @Ronan Mac Sweeney:
    Followed the feeder bus from Enniskerry?

    I’ll get my coat.

    3
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

Leave a commentcancel