A four day week would have a negative impact on children’s education and would be only for a “precious few” who work in office jobs, Ciara Kelly has argued. 

Sinn Féin has once again argued that Ireland should consider adopting the practice, insisting that it would improve work life balance, well being and productivity. 

On Newstalk Breakfast, presenter Shane Coleman said he “loves the idea” in theory but worries how it would work in reality. 

 “Instinctively, I would go, ‘Ugh, this can’t work’,” he explained. 

“But I wonder 100 years ago, did people saying, ‘Ugh, a five day working week? That can never work.’

“I get what the reasons are but we do have it already in certain parts of the public service - I think nurses work longer shifts.” 

A nurse with a COVID patient. Picture by: Robin Utrecht/ABACAPRESS.COM. 

Co-presenter Ciara Kelly was much sceptical about the impact a four day week would have on essential public services. 

“I think it would be only for the certain few - and that’s the unfortunate thing,” she said. 

“We already want our healthcare workers, for example, to work over seven days because we want our healthcare service over seven days. 

“We cannot staff it based on a five day working week; how are going to staff it based on a four day working week?”

A teacher with school children. Picture by: Robert Kneschke / Alamy.com. 

Overall, Ciara feels a four day week would be “highly impractical” and said she feared for children's education. 

“Our Guards, our children’s education, are we going to cut a day out of our kids’ education?” she asked. 

“I believe this is going to be for the precious few, maybe for the Mandarins, the civil service or whatever. 

“They could probably do it - but I think our doctors, our nurses, our radiographers - all that - they will be having to keep the lights on seven days a week.”

Main image: Ciara Kelly in the Newstalk studio. Image: Rory Walsh/Newstalk