Three extra bank holidays proposed in new bill

People Before Profit, which has proposed the bill, says Ireland currently lags behind many EU countries in bank holiday entitlements. 

People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy said workers in Ireland deserve more bank holidays and that the Government should pass this simple bill without opposition. File picture

People Before Profit has launched a bill to increase the number of bank holidays in Ireland.

The party is proposing that three extra bank holidays are established on February 1, the last Monday in September, and the last Monday in November, in each calendar year.

The party notes that Ireland currently lags behind many EU countries in bank holiday entitlements. 

Ireland has 20 days minimum holiday entitlements and nine paid public holidays compared to France with 30 days minimum holiday entitlements and 11 paid public holidays. Spain and Portugal have 13.

The Government has mooted the idea of an extra bank holiday before, however, none yet has been announced.

Paul Murphy, the spokesperson on employment rights, said workers in Ireland deserve more bank holidays and the Government should pass this simple bill without opposition.

We think it's absolutely necessary to recognise the work of frontline workers though Covid and in general, Irish workers work on average more than two extra weeks a year than the EU average.

“Since the beginning of the pandemic workers in Ireland have been working the equivalent of 38 extra hours per month, according to a LinkedIn survey, and have experienced increased stress levels working from home. 

"It is only right and fair that workers in this country who work extremely hard are rewarded with extra public holidays.

Three bank holidays is a modest ask, he said.

"It's the very least that can be done for workers."

Leader of People Before Profit Richard Boyd Barrett, said something "tangible" should be done by the Government.

"People need to work to live, not live to work.

There should be at least one bank holiday in every month of the year, which is the norm in Europe.

"There's no evidence anywhere that giving more bank holidays has a detrimental effect on the economy."