asked the Minister for Labour if he will consider making May Day, 1 May, a public holiday as this would be a fitting recognition of the major contribution of the whole labour movement to the country and would be bringing this country in line with most other countries.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - May Day Public Holiday.
5.
As I have indicated in reply to various Dáil questions on this matter, the question of declaring 1 May as a public holiday continues to be under active consideration by my Department. That consideration takes into account all relevant factors, including those outlined in this question. Any decision on the matter will be taken in the context of the review of the whole body of social legislation including the Holidays (Employees) Act, 1973.
Will the Minister indicate how long the active review will take? It has been in progress for the past four years and I would appreciate it if the Minister would indicate when it will end. Does he not agree it is time that May Day was established as a public holiday here, as it is in most other European countries?
In reply to a question raised by the Deputy on 3 December, the Minister indicated that he wished to have a review of the Holidays (Employees) Act, 1973, completed in the early part of this year. However, that review has not taken place. The reason is that priority is being given to more substantial matters of legislation, namely, measures dealing with worker participation, offshore oil, employment equality, occupational safety and so on.
I do not see how the declaration of May Day as a public holiday requires a major legislative review. It is simply a matter of bringing Ireland's public holiday quota some of the way towards level pegging with other EC countries. Will the Minister not agree it does not require a major legislative review but requires only a simple decision by the Minister and the Government?
There are substantial cost implications in the declaration of any public holiday. With regard to the Deputy's comment about our position vis-ávis the EC, Ireland ranks at the bottom of the list in terms of the number of public holidays. We are one of a minority of EC countries where May Day is not a public holiday. For instance, Belgium has ten public holidays, of which 1 May is a public holiday; Denmark has 11; France has ten; Germany has nine; Greece has 15; Ireland has eight; Italy has ten; Luxembourg has ten; The Netherlands has ten; Portugal has 12 as has Spain; the UK has eight holidays, including the first Monday in May.
The Minister has said there are cost implications in declaring 1 May as a public holiday. What is the figure involved and is that the sole consideration?
It is the FUE who object.
That may be so. I am asking the Minister the reason and the cost.
I do not have the figure. In a reply last December to a question on the matter, the Minister indicated he wished to have the 1973 Act reviewed. However, that review has not taken place because of the other major legislative proposals that have been dealt with.
The FUE refused to agree to it.
The last occasion a Minister for Labour announced a public holiday was in 1974 and the date chosen was 31 October. It was not even necessary to come into the House to do that.
We cannot have a debate on this matter. I am calling Question No. 6.