asked the Minister for Labour if he will consider making May Day a public holiday, if he has had any discussions with the Irish Congress of Trade Unions on this question, and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Public Holidays.
18.
The question of declaring 1 May as a public holiday continues to be under consideration by my Department. Any decision on it will be taken in the context of review of the whole body of social legislation and specifically of review of the Holidays (Employees) Act, 1973. I have had no recent discussion with the Irish Congress of Trade Unions on the issue but I am fully aware of their views in the matter.
When I asked this question in April 1984 the Minister was in active discussions with the ICTU and the FUE and hoped for an early conclusion. Was there a conclusion to the discussions which were being actively pursued at that time and has an agreement been reached regarding extra public holidays, May Day included?
There has been no definitive conclusion in relation to the whole question of public holidays.
The ICTU suggested, and the FUE said no.
The review of the 1973 Act has been going on for a number of years. When will that review be completed and will a decision be made then in relation to additional public holidays? I am sure the Minister is aware that we have the lowest number of public holidays in the EC, except for Great Britain. Northern Ireland has ten whereas we have only eight.
I am aware of the number of holidays we have in comparison with other EC countries. The Deputy is right in suggesting that a review of the Holidays (Employees) Act, 1973, is the right framework within which the decision should be made. It would be my desire to have that review completed early next year.