Ireland continues to fall behind other European countries when it comes to paid holiday entitlements, according to local People Before Profit Councillor Adrienne Wallace. The councillor and her party are now pushing for new legislation aimed at increasing the number of bank holidays in the country.
Cllr. Wallace, speaking to KCLR news, explained that despite the introduction of a February bank holiday in 2023 – a move that followed a proposal made by her party in 2021 – Ireland still has fewer public holidays compared to many European nations. While the February bank holiday has now become a permanent fixture, two other proposed holidays from that 2021 initiative were not implemented.
Cllr. Wallace and People Before Profit plan to introduce a new bill to push for the creation of additional bank holidays. She stressed that increasing holiday entitlements would not only benefit workers but would also provide an economic boost through increased consumer spending.
In Ireland, workers are currently entitled to just nine public holidays a year, fewer than many other European nations, where the number often reaches 12 or more. Cllr. Wallace’s new push is part of an ongoing effort to address what she describes as an outdated and insufficient approach to workers’ rights in Ireland.
The proposed legislation aims to add more paid days off to help workers balance work and life, improve mental health, and increase leisure time without financial strain.
