asked the Minister for Finance if he has received a proposal from the banks' standing committee to permit of the closing of the banks on Saturday, 27th December next; and, if so, if he will state what decision has been arrived at in the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Bank Closing.
I received an informal inquiry on behalf of the Irish Banks' Standing Committee as to what my attitude would be to a proposal if made to me by the committee that the banks be authorised to close on Saturday, 27th December, 1952. I indicated, in my reply, that I would not consider it to be in the public interest that the banks should remain closed on that day and that, accordingly, I would not be prepared to recommend the Government to make the necessary proclamation under the Public Holidays Act, 1924.
Did the Minister take into account the position of bank employees in the country who go home for Christmas? The fact that the banks will open on Saturday, the 27th, means that the officials will probably have to travel back on St. Stephen's Day. In view of the fact that they go home for the Christmas holidays, it would be of tremendous help to them if the banks could be relieved of the obligation of having to open on Saturday morning, the 27th. I imagine it is true to say that the amount of business transacted in the provincial towns on that day is very limited. I can see the difficulty with regard to Dublin, but it might be possible to permit the banks not to open their provincial offices on that day.
I do not think that any shop in rural Ireland will be open on the 27th December owing to its occurrence this year between St. Stephen's Day and Sunday. I suggest to the Minister that there will be no need for the banks to open in rural Ireland that day because there will not be a living creature in any provincial town who will want to transact business on that day.
The Deputy is well aware that the proclamation of a bank holiday must apply to the whole of Ireland. I must also advert to this fact, that the banks are there for the convenience of traders, and that a great number of traders would be greatly embarrassed if they had to retain the custody of considerable funds over the week-end period.
Would the Minister consider saying to the Banks' Standing Committee that a token opening by the resident managers, certainly in the rural areas, would meet the requirements of the statute?
That asks me to assume that what Deputy Dillon says applies universally to the whole of rural Ireland. I am not in a position to act on that assumption.
Cannot the banks themselves make arrangements with their staffs as to the number that will return for duty on that day?
Of course they can.