Ireland needs more bank holidays to align with European average, O'Gorman says

Eva Osborne

The Government needs to introduce more bank holidays to align with the European average.

Green Party leader, Roderic O'Gorman, is leading the call.

Ireland currently has 10 bank holidays every year, behind the European average of 12.

The Dublin West TD has suggested a number of options.

Speaking to Newstalk, he said: "We think it's a fair way to recognise the huge contribution of workers to the success of our economy.

"There's a number of options the Government could look at, confirming Good Friday as a bank holiday rather than the public holiday it is right now, where not everybody gets a day off on Good Friday.

"Or, alternatively, they could look at the first weekend of July and create a new summer bank holiday."