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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 20 May 1943

Vol. 90 No. 4

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Conditions of Employment Act, 1936.

asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he is prepared to introduce proposals to amend the Conditions of Employment Act, 1936, so as to ensure that all workers, whether permanent or temporary, will be paid for St. Patrick's Day, as this day is the recognised national holiday.

Under the Holidays (Employees) Act, 1939, and the Shops (Conditions of Employment) Act, 1938, all workers, with certain exceptions set out in those Acts, are entitled to a holiday with pay on St. Patrick's Day or to compensation in lieu thereof, provided they have worked not less than 150 hours for the same employer in the five weeks immediately preceding the holiday. The requirement of 150 hours' work means, in effect, that workers should be in the employment of the same employer for at least three weeks before they qualify for payment for a holiday.

I do not consider that any reduction of the qualifying number of hours would be in the best interests of the workers, as some employers might be tempted to refrain from employing workers in the period prior to the holiday. It is not, therefore, proposed to amend the legislation on the lines suggested in the question.

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