Seán Ryan (Dublin North, Labour)
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Question 10: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of public holidays enjoyed by workers here and the way in which this compares with the EU average; if she has plans to increase the number of public holidays; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18088/04]

Frank Fahey (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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The Organisation of Working Time Act 1997 provides for the entitlement of employees to the following nine public holidays per year: New Year's Day; St. Patrick's Day; Easter Monday; the first Monday in May; the first Monday in June; the first Monday in August; the last Monday in October; Christmas Day and St. Stephen's Day. The average public holiday entitlement in the EU at present is approximately 11 days annually. There are no plans to increase the number of public holidays in Ireland.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Does the Minister of State accept that Ireland is among those member states with the lowest number of days' leave and that countries which are highly successful economically, such as Austria and Finland, have considerably more day's leave than Ireland? Has he considered the impact of our paucity of paid public holidays in the context of the initiative that he and the Tánaiste have taken in balancing work and family life? The Tánaiste made a clear expression on the public record that such a balance is key to a prosperous, balanced future for our country. Does the Minister of State, therefore, accept that the entire focus cannot be placed on matters such as economic growth and number crunching, particularly if people's physical, family and social well-being will be negatively impacted upon? In that context, would he not consider increasing, at least by one, the number of paid public holidays in this country to bring us closer in line with the average, which is two days more than in Ireland, throughout the EU?

Frank Fahey (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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There has not been any great demand for an increase in the number of holidays——

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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If I was the Minister of State I would put it to a vote and the level of demand would become apparent.

Frank Fahey (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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——among the social partners. I concur with the views the Deputy expressed about the work and family life balance. The Tánaiste and I have endeavoured to continue to support the further development of all aspects of providing for a good work-life balance. As the Deputy stated, a person who is happy at work tends to produce more. There are nine public holidays. I suggest that increasing that number would be better dealt with in the social partnership discussions than it would be by a Minister.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Does the Minister of State accept that at least one of his predecessors, Deputy Quinn, dealt with the matter when he inaugurated the May Day holiday, the most recent additional public holiday to be created in this country? There are new and evolving pressures on family life in this country and to achieve the objective of the balancing work and family life initiative, which is being promoted strongly by his Department, the Minister of State should open his mind to change in this area. Does the Minister of State not accept that this is not exclusively a matter for others, such as the social partners, to deal with and that it should be part of his agenda to achieve a balance, particularly in light of the fixed school year at primary and secondary level introduced by the Minister for Education and Science, in order that people might spend certain days with their children?

Frank Fahey (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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The reaction of many people on the employer's side to the addition of 1 May as a public holiday was that it would have a costly impact on our competitiveness. While everyone would welcome further public holidays, we must be careful in terms of matters such as competitiveness, productivity etc. Given that progress has taken place in the talks on Sustaining Progress and previous national agreements, the appropriate place for discussion for any further improvement in public holidays is in that forum. I respectfully suggest that is the place where it should be dealt with.