Alliance welcomes St Patrick's Day decision - even though its six years late

3.34.51pm UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 31st Jan 2007

Strangford Alliance MLA Kieran McCarthy

Alliance Party Chief Whip Kieran McCarthy MLA, has welcomed Peter Hain's decision to make the 10 yearly bank holidays in Northern Ireland mandatory. Kieran McCarthy had put a resolution to the Assembly in 2000 demanding that St Patrick's Day be made a public holiday.

The Strangford Assembly Member said: "This change on public holidays is long overdue. Its about time that there was fairness on bank holidays in Northern Ireland.

"In 2000, I put the resolution to the Assembly to make St Patrick's Day a public holiday, and I am glad that action has finally been taken to make it one.

"At the time, the Assembly did not have the remit to set public holidays. It is essential that on matters like this, the government acts swiftly. In this case, people have had a long wait for the holidays they deserve.

"For some people, the government may have cost them six Patrick's Day holidays, because it took the government six years to act. The hard working people of Northern Ireland need a break and finally the British Government is giving them one.

"I am pleased that these government plans will now protect workers and ensure that they get the holidays they fully deserve."

ENDS