The Government has ruled out an additional bank holiday this year - as it would be too costly for employers already struggling with the Covid-19 crisis and Brexit implications.
The tourism sector called for an extra public holiday this year to help the hospitality industry recover from the coronavirus pandemic.
The Irish Tourism Industry Confederation, which represents tourism and hospitality businesses nationwide, said a one-off bank holiday this year would provide a much-needed boost for hotels, restaurants and pubs.
The confederation argues it would also reward the hard-pressed public for their sacrifices during the coronavirus pandemic.
However, Minister of State for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Damien English said an extra bank holiday could be too costly for employers who are already struggling to stay afloat.
He said: "Any proposal for the provision of an additional public holiday would require careful consideration and wide-ranging consultations with relevant stakeholders.
"Not least we would need to consider the implications and impact of any new public holiday on employment and for the economy at large, in particular the extra costs it would impose on employers already dealing with the COVID-19 crisis and Brexit."
Minister English also said public holidays are set out in law and would need serious consideration from Government before being brought in.
In response to a parliamentary question, he said: "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."
Ireland has just nine bank holidays each year - which is among the fewest within Europe.
The public holidays include New Year's Day, St Patrick's Day, Easter Monday, the first Monday in May, the first Monday in June, the first Monday in August, the last Monday in October, Christmas Day and St Stephen's Day.
Good Friday is not a public holiday.
Countries including Austria, Sweden, Poland and Portugal have 13 bank holidays each year while Greece has 12 and France, Finland and Germany have 11 bank holidays annually.
Last year, Taoiseach Micheal Martin said he would consider an extra bank holiday after the COVID-19 crisis passes.
He said there was "potential" that Ireland would get additional bank holiday in 2021 last December.
Mr Martin said: "I think that is one potential (thing) that we could do in terms of reflecting and acknowledging the work of many workers in different fields and in different sectors."
Minister for Further and Higher Education Simon Harris and former Junior Minister for Tourism Brendan Griffin are also calling for an extra bank holiday to support struggling industries and reward people for their sacrifices.
