A frontline worker had her hair appointment cancelled by a salon who didn't want to risk taking her as she worked in a hospital.
The salon has come in from heavy criticism from the woman's mother, who branded the policy "unfair" on frontline workers who may not be able to avail of services as they may have been exposed to Covid-19.
Mairin told Joe Duffy on Wednesday's Liveline on RTE Radio how her daughter was really upset at the last minute cancellation and said others may be unaware that they might not be able to get haircuts while the pandemic is still here.
She said: "She made an appointment to go to the hairdresser last week along with many of us. She was delighted to get her appointment for today which is her day off after nights."
"Yesterday evening they rang her and asked a set of questions, she had only just woken up from the previous night so she was a bit 'not with it'.
"So when they asked 'have you been in contact with anyone with Covid she said no.
"And then she woke a bit later and said 'oh gosh hang on a minute, maybe I shouldn't have said that'."
After chatting to a few friends on WhatsApp she decided to go back and tell them as maybe someone in the salon had a compromised immune system.
So after ringing back and saying she was a nurse who worked in an emergency department they told her they had to cancel the appointment.
"She tried to say 'oh we haven't had any confirmed cases in the last while but I'll wear my mask, I'll wear gloves, I am well'," Mairin explained.
"The girl on the phone said 'Sorry it's policy' and they had to cancel."
Mairin said her daughter was going on another night shift really upset that she couldn't do the things others are.
The salon later rang again and thanked her for her work and apologised further.
Her friends then helped her out and found her a new place who were happy to sort her out.
