Bank holiday to thank Covid frontline staff ‘may be just a one-off’

Increasing consensus around targeting Monday January 31 as the bank holiday to tie in with St Brigid’s DayResistance, especially from employer groups, to introducing a permanent new bank holidayConsideration also given to making St Patrick’s Day a four-day weekend

Taoiseach Micheál Martin did not rule out the bank holiday coinciding with St Brigid’s Day. Photo: Gareth Chaney

Philip Ryan

The Government’s plan for a new bank holiday to thank frontline workers for their efforts during the Covid pandemic may be a one-off event rather than an annual day off work.

There is increasing consensus around targeting Monday January 31 as the bank holiday to tie in with St Brigid’s Day which falls on Tuesday, February 1.