asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether, in view of disagreements which have arisen between employers and workers since the passing of the Holidays (Employees) Act, 1961, on the subject of holiday pay, he will give a full and comprehensive explanation of the provisions of section 9 of this Act in respect of pay due to workers for public holidays, both in the case where the worker does not work on the public holiday and in the case where the worker does work on the public holiday, with particular reference to the case which arises when the public holiday occurs on a Saturday.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Workers' Holiday Pay.
8.
The basis provisions of Section 9 of the Act are:—
(a) that a worker who does not work on the Public Holiday should be paid, in respect of the day, the amount payable under his contract of service for a normal full working day, and
(b) that a worker who works on the Public Holiday should either be paid two full days' pay for the day or get normal pay for the day plus a compensatory holiday, with pay, either within a month or in addition to his annual leave.
The determination of the actual payments involved in the case of any particular worker depends on his contract of service and it would not be possible, in a general statement, to indicate how payment should be determined in individual cases.
The Deputy will appreciate that only a Court of Law is competent to give an authoritative interpretation of an Act of the Oireachtas.
What happens when Saturday is a half day? What day does the worker get? That is the question.
That is provided for in the Act.
Could the Minister not tell us?
If the Deputy puts down a specific question, he will get a specific answer.
Is that question not included in this?
No; this is about the public holiday.