Dáil debates

Thursday, 26 April 2007

4:00 pm

Photo of Ruairi QuinnRuairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 2: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his attention has been drawn to the fact that Irish workers have fewer public holidays than workers in most EU countries; if he will increase the number of public holidays from nine to 11 in order to bring workers here up to the EU average; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15644/07]

Photo of Tony KilleenTony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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The Organisation of Working Time Act 1997, which implemented EU Council Directive 93/104/EC, of 23 November 1993, concerning certain aspects of the organisation of working time, provides for an entitlement to nine public holidays per annum.

Publication of data by the European Employment Observatory shows a wide variation in the number of public holidays among EU member states. The average public holiday entitlement in the EU at present is approximately 11 days per annum. Variations in the number of public holidays must be considered in the context of other factors which may bear on this matter including for example, the relationship with annual holiday entitlement, whether statutorily based or obtained by way of collective agreements. Some entitlements also stem from the legacy of historical and religious developments of specific and differing societies.

Were an increase in public holidays to be considered and I stress no increase is at this moment being contemplated, it would be necessary to undertake detailed and substantial consideration of issues arising, including wide-ranging consultations with social partners and other interested parties. Among the matters to be considered would be the impact of any such increase in public holidays on the competitiveness of firms, in particular, with regard to small and medium enterprises with smaller workforces, and in terms of output and the impact on employment.

The matter of an increase in public holidays did not emerge as an issue for consideration during the detailed and substantive phases of negotiation of the recent partnership agreement Towards 2016. However, there is nothing to prevent any party raising such matters for discussion in the context of any subsequent agreement.

In the circumstances, I do not share the view that proposals of this kind should be considered without regard to the wider interests of workers and the enterprises in which they are employed. I suggest that social partnership provides the appropriate forum in which such matters can best be considered.

Photo of Ruairi QuinnRuairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I was in the House earlier today when we discussed the role of social partnership in determining what this elected assembly might decide. I am flabbergasted by the content of the Minister of State's response. He effectively stated that since the social partners did not raise the issue we should not discuss it. We are two public holidays below the European average, which is not a maximum. We have nine public holidays while the European average is 11. Various historical reasons explain why countries have public holidays. In the context of family life balance in which the Department and Government are involved it would be desirable that over the course of the next five years, two public holidays are added. This would mean that across the 12 months of the year we would have a long weekend to which families could look forward when grandparents and grandchildren could meet up. We could reconstitute a family-friendly society in which people who must travel long journeys between one place and another have time to spend with each other.

I know the Minister in question will not be in a position to deliver this after the next election but this is Labour Party policy. I am sure the alliance between ourselves and Fine Gael will be such that I can now seek an assurance that when the Minister and his party are on these Opposition benches, they will not oppose an issue they are not prepared to implement while they still have the power.

Photo of Tony KilleenTony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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I will not engage in prophecy at this stage but it is important to remember the context of the league table of public holidays. I find league tables in general to be quite misleading, and this table does not take account of the holiday entitlements of people, which are in many respects considerably more flexible than set public holidays, as long as people have the choice of when to take them. The number of public holidays in Ireland, nine, is not the lowest among EU member states.

I take Deputy Quinn's point regarding families and there are family-friendly policies in place that have been advanced considerably in recent times. In general workers value the flexibility of their own entitlement to holidays in many respects more than public holidays. From that perspective it would certainly be in the interests of the country that when this issue is discussed at a serious level, the social partners will be involved in consultation.

Photo of Ruairi QuinnRuairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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As the last office holder to introduce a public holiday, the May bank holiday Monday announced in 1993 and introduced in 1994, I would indicate the difference between a public holiday and the flexibility of annual leave. A family can adjust the taking of annual leave to meet particular requirements and the difference between this and public holidays is succinct and important.

For example, the public holiday introduced by the late Michael O'Leary in October resulted in, among other things, the jazz festival in Cork and the Dublin City Marathon.

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The festival is the work of an innovative committee in Cork.

Photo of Ruairi QuinnRuairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I am quite serious. A space is created. I commend the people of Cork who brought forward the jazz festival but they chose to take a window of opportunity, a public holiday weekend. Dublin City Council did likewise when Noel Carroll initiated the Dublin City Marathon. On one occasion 15,000 people ran in the city marathon, creating a buzz and opportunities for employment and wealth creation.

Public holidays of a structured kind, to which I refer, can create business, employment and local tourism opportunities that do not currently exist. Flexibility for individuals means that if they have 20 working days leave, it can be tailored to family circumstances through negotiation with employers. The public holiday concept is one around which we can build festivals and celebrations of any kind across the city. I ask the Minister of State to reconsider the issue in the dying days of this Administration.

Deputies:

The Minister of State may briefly reply.

Photo of Tony KilleenTony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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I am afraid Deputy Quinn is setting the bar somewhat high with his requirements for the next public holiday, whenever it is announced. There are benefits to having public holidays, although families would indicate that public holiday weekends tend to be the most expensive in many of these locations. For many ordinary working families, the flexibility which entitlements to ordinary leave affords gives them better value on a great many occasions.