Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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191. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on making St. Brigid’s Day a public holiday; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16944/21]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The legislation which provides for public holidays is the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997. This Act provides that certain days may be prescribed as public holidays. At present, there are nine public holidays.

An extra holiday has implications of a broad nature in terms of costs and productivity and has cross-government issues to be explored.

Any proposal for the provision of an additional public holiday would require careful consideration and wide-ranging consultations with relevant stakeholders.