Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)

These are impressive statistics by any standards and workers are entitled to some reward for their achievements. I, therefore, advocate the introduction of two additional public holidays. Is the Minister aware that according to a recent opinion poll of workers 71% declare they do not get enough paid holidays, 43% took one week or less for their main holiday, 65% say workload increases when they take holidays and 4% holiday in a different time zone or remote location to avoid work. Does the Minister realise that the average holidays, including statutory holidays and public holidays, is 34 days across the EU and that only the Netherlands, Romania and the United Kingdom, with 28 days against our 29, are out of synch? Will the Minister consider my proposal? If the Labour Party ever returns to Government this is something it will pursue. The last time this was done was when the Labour Party gave the public the May Day holiday in 1994.

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