Vol. 418 No. 9
16 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for Labour if he has any proposals to create more public holidays, especially in view of the fact that this country has fewer public holidays than most other EC states; if, in particular, he will consider making May Day a public holiday; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
69 Mr. Currie asked the Minister for Labour if it is his intention to increase the number of official bank holidays; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 16 and 69 together. I assume that Deputy Currie is referring to public holidays as the regulation of bank holidays does not come within the scope of my functions.
I have no proposals to increase the number of public holidays. The issue of introducing more public holidays and in particular the possibility of designating May Day as a public holiday was raised in discussions on the Programme for Economic and Social Progress between the Government and the social partners. There was no agreement to include the issue in the current programme. However, there is a commitment in the programme for a general review of the legislation relating to holidays. The question of increasing the number of public holidays and of designating May Day as a public holiday will be among the matters for consideration as part of that review.
May I draw the Minister's attention to the fact that the former Minister for Labour, Deputy B. Ahern, announced in January 1991 that it was intended to make May Day a public holiday by 1994. Is that commitment now being withdrawn? We have eight public holidays; and may I point out that Ireland is among the countries in the European Community that has the least number of public holidays? Denmark has 14 and we are one of only three EC countries that do not designate May Day as a public holiday? In view of this, does the Minister consider it fair that labour should be marked by a public holiday?
The only comment I can make on the first part of the supplementary question is that it is not 1994 yet and perhaps a question to the Minister for Finance might elicit the exact information about that.
Second, four countries of the Twelve are on a par with Ireland in this regard. Finally, the question of increasing the number of public holidays and designating May Day as a public holiday will be part of the review that I mentioned in the body of the reply.
