Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)

The analogy begins to disintegrate because the Oireachtas has, in a more recent provision, provided for a period of 28 days. The provision in the Bill is closer to the 28 days than the Senator's amendment.

In this Bill it has been decided to propose a period of eight working days rather than eight days, or indeed 28 days. Advice has been taken from the Attorney General on the constitutionality of this. A working day is defined as a day other than a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday, within the meaning of the Organisation of Working Time Act, 1997. Public holidays under this Act are Christmas Day, St. Stephen's Day, St. Patrick's Day, Easter Monday, the first Monday in June, the first Monday in August, the last Monday in October and the first of January and, where relevant, the following weekday when a public holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday.