Leo Varadkar officially signed the two new upcoming bank holidays into law today which will fall in March this year and around Saint Brigid's Day next year.
This year's once-off bank holiday on Friday, March 18 will be held in commemoration of those who have lost their lives to Covid-19 and to recognise the work of frontline workers during the pandemic.
It will create a four-day weekend because it falls the day after the bank holiday for St Patrick’s Day, Thursday 17 March.
From 2023 a new bank holiday will be created to celebrate St Brigid's Day, February 1, and will be held annually on the first Monday in February, which will be Monday February 6 next year.
The Tanaiste said that the new annual bank holiday will be the first public holiday to celebrate a woman.
“From next year, the first Monday in February will be a new public holiday, Imbolc or Saint Brigid’s Day," he said in a video posted on social media today.
“It’s the first public holiday to be named for a woman, also a Christian saint of course, and marks the traditional start of the Celtic new year.
“As well as that we’re having a one-off special public holiday this year. That will be held on Friday the 18th of March and it’s going to be a day of recognition and remembrance, remembering those who lost their lives because of Covid and also recognising all of the workers and volunteers who did so much to help us get through the pandemic."
He also explained what workers would be entitled in respect of the two new bank holidays saying that if you have to work on new bank holidays you should receive compensation in the form of a day off at another time or an extra day's pay.
“If a public holiday occurs, you’re entitled to the day off and full pay for that day," he said.
"If for some reason you have to work on the public holiday, you’re entitled to a day off and full pay in lieu, an additional day’s annual leave or double pay. So every worker benefits."
