Vol. 397 No. 5
48 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for Labour if he has received a submission from the Dublin Trades Council urging that May Day be made a public holiday; if it is intended to respond to this request; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
While no submission has been received from the Dublin Trades Council in recent times regarding this matter, I am aware that the council are campaigning to have May Day declared a public holiday.
In reaching a decision on this matter the prevailing economic climate and Government priorities relating to the preservation of existing jobs and the creation of new jobs must be borne in mind. Since the creation of a new public holiday would generate significant employment costs, I do not consider it appropriate at this time to declare May Day a public holiday.
