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'Some staff reported being spat at': Public asked to respect shop workers as sales begin

Labour shortages and abuse from customers have made the work environment more difficult this year.

WITH THE SEASONAL sales resuming today after a brief interlude for Christmas, trade union Mandate is once again underlining the need for consumers and employers to be mindful of efforts made by retail workers during the pandemic.

Just as the busy pre-Christmas period arrived earlier this month, the union highlighted the experience of frontline shop workers, cashiers and checkout operators amid “worrying reports” of an increase in verbal abuse from customers.

Speaking to The Journal last week, one security professional working in a large supermarket in the west of the country, said he had been spat on by a customer during an incident this year. 

“That really took its toll on me because I look after my father,” he said.

“Unfortunately, we’ve had to put him in a home because he has Parkinson’s. So, I had to stay away from him for a while. I couldn’t go near him because I didn’t know what was in that spit.”

Mask-wearing is still an issue in many retail spaces, he said.

“Like, 100% of the staff come into the workplace and they’re wearing masks,” he added.

“Then we see customers coming in without masks on the way and we’re thinking, why aren’t they being challenged? Why aren’t they being stopped at the door?”

“We would probably see the [post-Christmas] sales as having an equal impact on our members as the lead-in to Christmas,” Mandate General Secretary Gerry Light told The Journal.

“Obviously, when we put the call out a couple of weeks ago, we were thinking about the run-up to Christmas but also the January sales period as well.”

While the vast majority of customers “have bought the message” and done what was asked of them this year, the environment remains challenging for shop workers, Light said.

One ongoing issue is the current shortage of retail workers.

The nature of Ireland’s bit-by-bit reopening process this year has meant that some parts of the economy opened sooner than others.

Because of this, sectors have lost workers to other sectors.

According to a Department of Social Protection working paper, published in October, up to 26% of PUP claimants — roughly 135,000 workers — who had returned to work at that stage were working in a different sector than they were when they started receiving the payment.

“What we’ve seen [since the start of the pandemic] is that a lot of people in retail have decided to move out or move on,” he said.

“That can be a huge stressor at this time of the year — ensuring that people are given their adequate breaks and ensuring they have sufficient support.”

Abuse and workplace safety are the other big issues, he said.

Light explained: “The standard stuff that was reported back to us was verbal abuse and racial abuse in some circumstances. We also have some who are reporting being spat at as well.”

These challenges aren’t going anywhere in 2022, he said, as long as Covid continues to cloud the outlook.

But both the public and employers have a major role to play in ensuring the day-to-day safety of retail workers, Light said.

“As we’ve gone through the Covid journey, I think maybe some degree complacency sort of set in when we’re talking about wearing the face masks, hand sanitising, ensuring adequate social distancing, crowd control and ventilated workspaces,” he said.

“There shouldn’t be a situation where staff have to deal with unnecessary levels of stress and exposure to dangers, particularly associated with Covid.” 

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    Mute Mayo seem to be the football equivalent of Waterfo
    Favourite Mayo seem to be the football equivalent of Waterfo
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    Jul 21st 2024, 7:30 PM

    Correct decision. God bless you Mr Biden and thank you for your service

    385
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    Mute Pat Barry
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    Jul 21st 2024, 7:33 PM

    @Mayo seem to be the football equivalent of Waterfo: Amen to that brother.

    45
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    Mute John J Barry
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    Jul 21st 2024, 8:29 PM

    @Mayo seem to be the football equivalent of Waterfo: I’m sure the Palestinians will agree with you.

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    Mute Wood Jackson
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    Jul 21st 2024, 9:21 PM

    @William Slevin: it must be so difficult for you, knowing everything. I hope you soon get some rest.

    28
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    Mute Thesaltyurchin
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    Jul 21st 2024, 9:23 PM

    @Mayo seem to be the football equivalent of Waterfo: ‘God’… we have so far to go yet.

    3
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    Mute Eric Gaffney
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    Jul 21st 2024, 9:46 PM

    @Mayo seem to be the football equivalent of Waterfo: Yeah thanks for all the wars

    21
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    Mute Eric Gaffney
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    Jul 21st 2024, 10:07 PM

    @William Slevin: he’s in talks with Trump ! Where do you lot get your news?

    21
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    Mute brian madden
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    Jul 21st 2024, 10:19 PM

    @Eric Gaffney: breibart

    10
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    Mute David Guiney
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    Jul 21st 2024, 10:21 PM

    @William Slevin: he’s a sex pest, and rabid anti vaxer that his own family have disowned.

    24
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    Mute another one? what's going on is the semi state sec
    Favourite another one? what's going on is the semi state sec
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    Jul 21st 2024, 10:29 PM

    @William Slevin: Well done. You used “their” in the right context!

    10
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    Mute TheGood Feign
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    Jul 21st 2024, 11:28 PM

    @William Slevin: I think the key thing about RFK is the media won’t mention him despite his rather significant percentage in polls, significant because of the election is close then his presence spoils an outright win. I think it goes to the house of reps to elect or something like that. No place in America for an independent, land of the free, leader of the free world, yeah right.

    9
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    Mute James T.Kirk
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    Jul 21st 2024, 11:29 PM

    @Pat Barry: I hope that has made sense
    in your head.

    3
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    Mute James T.Kirk
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    Jul 21st 2024, 11:32 PM

    @William Slevin: Ah Mr.Slevin is back with nothing better to do with his free time than trying to prove a point. Good man Jack.

    9
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    Mute Fergus O'Donnell
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    Jul 22nd 2024, 12:09 AM

    @William Slevin: failure of a comment.
    Can you even read?

    9
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    Mute Annette
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    Jul 21st 2024, 7:39 PM

    Trump is too old to be president.

    192
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    Mute Pat Barry
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    Jul 21st 2024, 7:51 PM

    @Annette: I think the near miss has set him back a bit.

    47
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    Mute Thesaltyurchin
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    Jul 21st 2024, 9:24 PM

    @Annette: and too dumb, but ‘that’s entertainment..’

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    Mute brian madden
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    Jul 21st 2024, 10:20 PM

    @Pat Barry: he looks very dishevelled.

    19
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    Mute Stephen Foster
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    Jul 21st 2024, 8:14 PM

    Kamala hasn’t a hope against Trump. So unlikeable, phoney and vapid. The democrats are in big trouble.

    206
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    Mute Thesaltyurchin
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    Jul 21st 2024, 9:27 PM

    @Stephen Foster: she has one advantage. We know nothing about her.

    34
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    Mute Argus Romsworth
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    Jul 21st 2024, 8:06 PM

    Hope President Biden enjoys his retirement. He’s implemented some excellent economic policies that have benefitted the USA massively. Which in turn has benefited us here in Ireland and helped put more money in our pockets.

    122
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    Mute Sheila McNulty
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    Jul 21st 2024, 8:44 PM

    @Argus Romsworth: And he has supplied Israel with no end of Arms which has slaughered Thousands & thousands of innocent Children, Families wiped out in Palastine & their Country destroyed, How he could watch what was happening & still keep the arms supplied is scandalise

    186
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    Mute James T.Kirk
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    Jul 21st 2024, 11:38 PM

    @Sheila McNulty: Nonsense, every president will support Israel by default. If you don’t know that you have a lot of reading to do.

    45
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    Mute Ger Whelan
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    Jul 21st 2024, 8:41 PM

    He’s spent hundreds of billions of dollars financing wars on different continents while millions of Americans are falling into poverty.

    140
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    Mute TheGood Feign
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    Jul 21st 2024, 11:38 PM

    @Ger Whelan: they’ve always done that, the US was born out of the arms industry, and it profiteered from both sides in ww1 before joining in. Supplying or demonstrating it’s arms is what it does and always has.

    36
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    Mute Shane Kinsella (Kinsey)
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    Jul 22nd 2024, 7:31 AM

    @Ger Whelan: The irony being that the one president who didn’t start a war is vilified as a war monger. You couldn’t make this stuff up.

    20
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    Mute 087 bed
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    Jul 21st 2024, 7:38 PM

    I wonder who AIPAC will allow to take his place.

    90
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    Mute Thesaltyurchin
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    Jul 21st 2024, 9:25 PM

    @087 bed: Netanyahu

    18
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    Mute Mike B
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    Jul 21st 2024, 9:28 PM

    @087 bed: Michael Rapaport

    11
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    Mute Sean Money
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    Jul 21st 2024, 7:39 PM

    Whom is pulling the strings here?

    73
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    Mute Ger Whelan
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    Jul 21st 2024, 7:44 PM

    @Sean Money: Putin?

    14
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    Mute Jack Hayes
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    Jul 21st 2024, 8:13 PM

    @Sean Money: ‘Who’.

    29
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    Mute Áine G
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    Jul 21st 2024, 8:43 PM

    It’s Trump’s now. For the taking.

    62
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    Mute Keith o beirne
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    Jul 21st 2024, 7:32 PM

    america is a nation that can be described in a single word, asufutimaehaehfutbw.

    67
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    Mute Pat Barry
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    Jul 21st 2024, 7:35 PM

    @Keith o beirne: …or fubar.

    30
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    Mute stephen deegan
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    Jul 21st 2024, 8:07 PM

    @Pat Barry: or WTF

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    Mute Thesaltyurchin
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    Jul 21st 2024, 9:26 PM

    all valid

    2
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    Mute Oh Mammy
    Favourite Oh Mammy
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    Jul 21st 2024, 7:39 PM

    The US moving into a deeper ring of embarrassment

    78
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    Mute Jack Hayes
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    Jul 21st 2024, 8:12 PM

    The best decision and he leaves with divinity. Of course, Trump’s reaction to the news is the expected vile nastiness.

    72
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    Mute Jack Hayes
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    Jul 21st 2024, 8:15 PM

    *Dignity, I mean. I think the mentally-ill Maga cultists have the handle on messianic divinity.

    47
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    Mute Ian
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    Jul 21st 2024, 8:30 PM

    @William Slevin: see you’re the perpetual klown on here.

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    Mute Sheila McNulty
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    Jul 21st 2024, 8:49 PM

    @Jack Hayes: dignity? he has Palastine on his Conscience supplied Israel with arms to slaughter innocent Children & Thousands of Families wiped of the face of the earth

    35
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    Mute Bert Carolan
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    Jul 21st 2024, 8:10 PM

    A real problem for the democrats now is that Harris is seen as unelectable. The best candidate would be California governor Gavin Newsome. They now have to persuade Harris not to run.
    To an extent this is damage limitation from the democrats. A candidate that can beat Trump at this point is unlikely, not losing both houses and at least be able to block trumps policys.

    45
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    Mute Alan
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    Jul 21st 2024, 9:14 PM

    @Bert Carolan: but Newsome is highly unpopular in California? What the Democrats need to do first is to stop banging on about what people have to lose if trump wins and instead tell people what they will gain if they vote Democrat.

    55
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    Mute Bert Carolan
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    Jul 21st 2024, 9:28 PM

    @Alan: California will vote democrat even if it meant voting for a jack Russell.
    It’s all about optics now. Newsome will look good, will sound good and will be 30 years younger than Trump.
    Can he or any other democrat candidate carry the swing states? Probably not.
    Mind you a section of voters that were disillusioned with two ancient candidates might be motivated now.

    23
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    Mute ecrowley ecrowley
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    Jul 21st 2024, 7:40 PM

    Would have been more effective a few days ago to take the sting out of the assassination attempt, narratively speaking. Still, he’s doing the right thing bowing out.

    48
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    Mute ecrowley ecrowley
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    Jul 21st 2024, 7:53 PM

    @William Slevin: I’ll say something to you that you have never, ever heard before…You might be right.

    46
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    Mute Paul
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    Jul 21st 2024, 9:14 PM

    But but but, Trump was wrong when he said Sleepy Joe wasn’t up to the job!

    41
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    Mute Joseph Tierney
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    Jul 21st 2024, 7:50 PM

    What took him so long to make up his mind… Forgot he needed the proper medicine…..

    48
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    Mute Kieran Woods
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    Jul 21st 2024, 8:23 PM

    I wonder who the MIC and Isreal have chosen as the next nominee?

    37
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    Mute John Barry
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    Jul 21st 2024, 8:23 PM

    Good luck in your retirement Mr Biden. You’ll always be welcome back home in Ireland… Now to get Gavin Newsome in.

    38
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    Mute Sheila McNulty
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    Jul 21st 2024, 8:51 PM

    @John Barry: Really?After supplying Arms to Israel wake up

    89
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    Mute Sean Mccabe
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    Jul 21st 2024, 8:40 PM

    Off to paddy powers and put the mortgage on trump..absolute shoe in

    36
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    Mute Garreth Byrne
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    Jul 21st 2024, 8:18 PM

    Fintan O’Toole’s Irish Times article obviously influenced Biden’s decision.

    27
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    Mute Vincent Hickey
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    Jul 21st 2024, 8:48 PM

    Sleepy joe will nod off now

    27
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    Mute Argus Romsworth
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    Jul 21st 2024, 9:06 PM

    Such a brave decision from president Biden.

    20
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    Mute Phillip Smyth
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    Jul 21st 2024, 8:20 PM

    Trump has a shoe in now, Democracy as the US partially had is now dead, the major power a dictator wants is to be glorified by his people and the adoration from same,he has the money, what else does he need only a monument and a gold plaque to go down in history.

    24
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    Mute Paul
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    Jul 21st 2024, 9:15 PM

    @Phillip Smyth: the world was more pea full place when Trump was President.
    But lefty dopes never let the facts cloud their opinions…

    56
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    Mute sean weir
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    Jul 21st 2024, 11:46 PM

    @Paul: rubbish

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    Mute Shane Kinsella (Kinsey)
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    Jul 22nd 2024, 7:32 AM

    @Phillip Smyth: You do know how democracy works right ?

    2
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    Mute Ian McDonald
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    Jul 21st 2024, 11:02 PM

    How the hell are fires being started at the Coolock site that is being monitored by both Gards and security personnel ??? You had one job!

    31
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    Mute hi from heaven
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    Jul 21st 2024, 11:47 PM

    @Ian McDonald: I thought the same thing…but I presume it would be easy done with drones and petrol bombs

    6
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    Mute James Rowan
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    Jul 21st 2024, 8:30 PM

    Covfefe

    16
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    Mute 9QRixo8H
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    Jul 21st 2024, 8:15 PM

    Could Newsom be the new JFK? Young and energetic. #SaveDemocracy2024

    14
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    Mute Richard Keogh
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    Jul 21st 2024, 8:26 PM

    @9QRixo8H: California is an absolute basket case under his leadership. His polling among Independents is horrendous, and they will be very important in deciding the election in the swing states.

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    Mute RIP
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    Jul 21st 2024, 9:04 PM

    God help America,
    playing into Putin’s hands

    15
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    Mute Athena
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    Jul 21st 2024, 9:08 PM

    Aww, and him having received the most votes of all presidents ever, he might have topped that yet again …

    13
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    Mute hans vos
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    Jul 21st 2024, 9:02 PM

    Brave from Biden. Seeing your own Foulds is not for everyone. Still I prefer Gretchen Whitmer or Gavin Newsom instead of Kamela Harris.

    11
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    Mute Keith McSweeney
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    Jul 21st 2024, 8:48 PM

    Kamala Harris

    8
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    Mute AnthonyK
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    Jul 21st 2024, 9:09 PM

    A descent choice.

    3
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    Mute Peter Brown
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    Jul 21st 2024, 10:46 PM

    Kamala and Clinton

    3
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    Mute sean weir
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    Jul 21st 2024, 11:46 PM

    @Peter Brown: on god no ,that’s the worst pairing ever ,trump would walk it

    16
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