Over 100 people gathered earlier today for a protest supporting former Debenhams workers. It took place close to Dublin's Convention Centre, where the Dáil was sitting following a curtailed summer recess.
The demonstrators marched from the now closed Debenhams store on Henry Street to the junction between North Wall Quay, Guild Street and the Samuel Beckett bridge.
The road to the Convention Centre was blocked to protesters.
It is 146 days since Debenhams employees were made redundant.
While staff are set to receive statutory redundancy - which is set at two weeks' per year of service, capped at €600 per week - they are calling for four weeks' pay per year of service.
Most of the protesters were wearing masks or face coverings and there were calls during the speeches for participants to socially distance.
Protest organiser and Mandate shop steward at what was the store's Henry Street branch, Jane Crowe said that while the TDs had been on their holidays, former Debenhams staff had spent their break on the picket line.
"The protest is just to let them know that we've gone nowhere, we're still here 146 days later," Ms Crowe said
"We just want to let Micheál Martin know, that the staff, we're all losing patience at this stage, we want something to happen."
Debenhams staff were also joined by workers from St Monica's Nursing Home and St Mary's Centre (Telford) nursing home and disability centre in Dublin.
They were protesting the closure of these centres and calling for a better redundancy package. Both facilities are owned by the Sisters of Charity.
Elizabeth Meade, SIPTU union rep and healthcare assistant at St Monica's Nursing Home, said she had worked there for 23 years, and described the closure as "the most heartbreaking thing she had ever endured".
"What we want is our dues from the nuns and the HSE," said Ms Meade. Staff are "devastated" at the closure.
"It's like a death... I feel like I've lost 38 people," she said of the loss of contact with residents.
Demonstrators from the 'Save Saint Mary's' group are campaigning for the nursing home and disability centre to remain open.
Breda Ryan, administration manager for St Mary's, said campaigners had written to the Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly, Acting Chief Medical Officer Dr Ronan Glynn and Dr Kathleen MacLellan, Chair of the NPHET Vulnerable People Subgroup to raise concerns about the transfer of the remaining residents from the facility.
