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The Daily PollAN ADDITIONAL BANK holiday is one idea mooted to boost the crippled tourism sector, and it’s understood the idea is being considered as an option by government.
There had been some reports that the extra bank holiday could be signed off by Cabinet this week for Monday 21 December, but it’s believed there may be little point in this option if restrictions are still in place across the country.
Labour’s Alan Kelly raised the reports in the Dáil yesterday, asking the Taoiseach whether he “bottled the 21 December” or if there was any extra consideration given to an extra bank holiday at all.
Micheál Martin replied that creating an extra bank holiday wasn’t on his mind this week, and it’s understood sometime next year is more likely for an extra bank holiday.
But what do you think? If we were to get an extra bank holiday, when would you like it to be?
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Give it to us on a Friday before an existing bank holiday
@Ned Gerblansky: now you’re talking!
@Ned Gerblansky: best idea everrrrrrrrrr!!!!
@Ned Gerblansky: they’ll probably make it February 29th after lobbying from business groups
We’re still waiting for the four-day working week, mind you.
@Ned Gerblansky: in Germany bank holidays are fixed by date. If it falls onto a weekend…then it falls onto a weekend and you get nothing. In this way ireland is doing the right thing kiving it to the monday after.
Saint Bridget’s Day, February 1st, maybe. Long, dreary time between New Years and Saint Patrick’s Day
@Shaner Mac: came here to say that! The gap between the Christmas/New Years Break and Paddy’s day is just took long. We need a lil pick me up in February
@Shaner Mac: and it’s the first holiday after payday, and only 4 weeks to the next payday
@Shaner Mac: yep perfect for the ski trip.
@Shaner Mac: Yes, first weekend in Feb would be nice.
Not the Monday before Christmas anyway.
@Bold Underline: right? Small businesses and services can make enormous money on Christmas week. They shouldn’t be juggling *extra* time off requirements during that week. You just know someone who works in an office and has pretty much 2 weeks off already dreamed that one up.
@Jacqui Russell: I’d imagine that most people would keep that day free for Xmas shopping locally or in town. If they could rely on being off that day. I usually try to get a day off to go to the Craft fair for presents. Of course, if we had the four-day week, it’s even more likely that we would use it to shop for gifts. But if Irish businesses prefer to work people so hard that they have little time off, then they will shop abroad online, have the goods delivered to the workplace that they can’t leave, and so much for buying in Ireland.
@Fiona Fitzgerald: you do realise that the retailers would be working on that day, right? When an employee has to work on a public holiday they have to be given the “missed” day off within 30days so if there’s a clump of them it makes staffing for the following month more complicated. There’s already 3 within a week at that time of year.
All bank holidays should be on a Friday. You would then get to use it properly rather than sitting around on Monday dreading the Tuesday. Be better for the economy too as people would go out on the Thursday evening, in the distant future that is!
@Fergal O’Hagan: Am I the only one confused by your comment. That would be the same thing surely? You would have the dread feeling on Sunday if you were back Monday and people could go out the Sunday if they were off the Monday which would be the same thing economy wise. I really don’t see how there is a difference there but maybe I am simple folk haha
@Fergal O’Hagan: why don’t you get a job you like
@Fandandi: That’s right, the real effect of a bank holiday is freeing up the weekend day of Sunday, without worrying about the next day.
@Fergal O’Hagan: Museums and Art galleries are closed on Mondays. It’s cruel to always have bank holidays on Mondays.
18 people so far have voted “i don’t want an extra bank holiday”. As jim morrison said, people are strange.
@Brian Dunne: Business owners maybe?
@Brian Dunne: Those that are off every day !
@Brian Dunne: only when you’re a stranger though
@Brian Dunne: The self-employed! Nobody pays us for any bank holidays!
@Brian Dunne: Most contractors don’t get paid for bank holidays, or sick days.
Personally I’d rather they close the shops on Stephens day and give us 2 days off over Christmas rather than the one day we get
@Thérèse Martin Farrell: close the shops for 3 or 4 days over the xmas and give retail workers a proper break.
@Thérèse Martin Farrell: that really is a good idea. Terrible how retail are in the day after Christmas day.
@Thérèse Martin Farrell: Yes, good idea. I never go into the sales and I think it’s horrible that people have to work on the day after Christmas. Retail is hectic enough on the weeks beforehand. I was away in Portugal one year and their shops were so calm and unrushed by contrast.
@Thérèse Martin Farrell: Stephen’s Day is a bank holiday. The retailers choose to open. Government can’t do anything about that. But I agree, staff should get a break that day
@Thérèse Martin Farrell: very real possibility you will get that this year….might even get the week off
July ,one in Jun and Aug makes 3 long weekends in the summer to make me smile
@flexfinn:
There’s no bank holiday in July
@dublinguide.ie: Yaaaa, that’s why he has suggested for one to be in July.
@dublinguide.ie: Irish constitution was ratified in July 1937. Bunreacht na hEireann day?
@Mick Hyland: Sounds good to me. A break from commuting in hot weather.
An extra day off to do nothing and go nowhere yay!!
St Brigid’s day, February 1st, would be my pick.
@Richard Barrett: Too cold out – have it on a day when we get decent weather!
Today…
Can It back dated
Bank holidays don’t exist fir folk in retail.
@Jim O Brien Tech: Not in the same way, but if you work one you are required to get a day in lieu or extra pay as well as be paid for the work. Even part timers are supposed to get an extra bit of pay if it is not their normal day, if they have been working more than 8 hours/ week on ave in the 5 weeks before the holiday.
@Sarah-J. Mc Hugh: it’s given to us as an extra annual leave day, no extra pay or subsidies for working the actual day either.
@Aviationdub: Eh what? You get paid for the day you work and you get paid for the annual leave day.
@Billy Nomates: if I work the normal day it’s worth €110 to me, if I take it as an a/l day it’s €55, so I get less for it
Today please, I’m wreck
Bring back 8th December and if it falls on a weekend you get the Monday off!
@Declan Edward: But it is a religious holiday no way it will happen on that day…
@The Journal, didn’t Fine Gael come out a year or two ago and say that the country couldn’t afford an additional BH? Maybe a fact check article.
@David Kavanagh: It’ll be fine – they’ve given themselves many pay rises since then, so obviously they have improved the economy.
July. Hottest month of year.
Every Friday
July. When the weather is more likely to be fine, and longer daylight hours to enjoy it more.
@Daniel Dunne: Agree.
Middle of January. The day that is called the bluest day of the year where people are most likely to ‘take a dive’ from work.
12 th July.
Any day you feel like using it yourself.
@Jason Ebbs: Good idea – I’d love to take a day when we get some sunshine.
Weekend closest to the summer solstice would be great.
Summer hopefully we might be back to some ,sort of normality, no point having one now really is there.
February be good. Bloody ages between new years and Paddy’s Day.
the weekend pubs are back open
Is there anything to be said about one bank holiday a month? Nevermind the 4 day week. I’d be very happy with that. I think it’d do a lot for general mental health
@Mocheolthu: not if you work in Retail or Hospitality…
@Mocheolthu: Those most affected by mental health will be working retail, stressed by the office types that think 9-5 Monday to Friday is bad for mental health. The mental health card is being used way too much lately.
Sorting sounds like a good time. I’d like a national holiday to celebrate the signing of the Good Friday Agreement. From the point of view of our island and our nation, I think it should be celebrated so act to reconcile the divisions of the people who live in Ireland
Tomorrow.
I’m worn out already by this seasonal change.
Should be a day in honour of 1916 or in honour of the great John Hume
@marianne ryan: Surely Easter Monday covers this?
The last monday in February
@Paul Somers:
Feburary 29th
@Declan Sweeney: Wouldn’t put it past them to pull a trick like that
Dec. 21st??? Surely not, isn’t the Christmas season long enough? Why not springtime.
End of September …. if at all. Bank Holiday in August is 1st weekend and the one in October is last weekend, that’s about 11 or 12 weeks without one at the mo.
8th Dec….
Its a traditional shopping day in Ireland
T mora
First Monday in July.
An extra bank holiday to do what?
@WreckDefier: Not commute, not go to work. Sure what do we work for anyway if not to enjoy life?
@Fiona Fitzgerald: Money?
@Fiona Fitzgerald: you have forgotten that not everyone works in an office…
When you are all piling into shops & restaurants on your Bank Holidays off try and remember that the people working in there are human too, and not machines.
They can keep it… just an extra busy day for those of us working in Retail and Hospitality.
The day after St.Patricks day you know whats the point of paddys if hungover people have to go work the next day
Days after the all ireland Finals
The February suggestion is a good one I think!
They can keep it. Another day to sit in the house doing f all
Is this just a one off?
Black Friday…. Will make my Thanksgiving a little less hectic!!
@Seeking Truth: I still can’t believe people buy into that American commercialized muck. We have Stephens Day sales for that.
Rather than a Covid one off have one every February 29th.
Good time of the year after Xmas and will keep the business sector happy as it’s only every 4 years.
February 29th
have your say