Vol. 506 No. 5
37 Mr. Broughan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of public holidays to which employees are entitled; the way in which this compares with the EU average; the plans, if any, she has to increase the number; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15816/99]
The Organisation of Working Time Act, 1997, sets out the statutory rights for employees in respect of holiday entitlements. This Act provides for the following nine public holidays per year: 1 January (New Year's Day); St. Patrick's Day; Easter Monday; the first Monday in May; the first Monday in June; the first Monday in August; the last Monday in October; Christmas Day and St. Stephen's Day.
The average public holiday entitlement in the EU at present is approximately 11 days annually.
This year the Government has approved the designation of 31 December 1999, as a special one-off public holiday in celebration of the millennium. There are no further plans at present to increase the number of public holidays.
