An extra bank holiday in September to support the hospitality sector has been suggested by a government TD.
Fine Gael’s Brendan Griffin, who was the junior Minister for Tourism in the last Dáil, called on Taoiseach Micheál Martin to consider an extra bank holiday on Wednesday.
Mr Martin said Mr Griffin’s suggestion was under review among a number of other mechanisms in how the government could reflect the State's appreciation for frontline workers and for the public's efforts throughout the pandemic.
Speaking in the Dáil, the Kerry TD said: “Can the Government give consideration to the creation of a new bank holiday at the end of September as a boost to the tourism and hospitality sector?
“I welcome the announcements that were made recently on reopening and I hope as the vaccine momentum roll-out grows that we will see further easing of restrictions in the sector.
“Once children go back to school next September we will see a major falloff in the domestic market and I therefore believe that a bank holiday at the end of September would be very helpful.
“Of all years it is very much needed this year.”
In response the Taoiseach said: “The hospitality sector, in particular, has suffered enormously as a result of the virus and the pandemic.
“We will look at a variety of mechanisms that we could deploy to assist the hospitality sector and the Deputy has suggested one.
“There will be others and we will keep the matter under review.”
It’s understood Mr Griffin repeated his call at the Fine Gael parliamentary party meeting last night when addressing the party’s leader, Leo Varadkar and asked him to "seriously consider it".
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