IF YOU BELIEVE the ratings agencies, Ireland is a bankrupt nation and the country needs to immediately improve its national productivity. In these times of unprecedented financial challenges facing the public sector, I believe the Irish government should row in and delete the May Bank Holiday from the calendar. This would inject an imperative into the discussion with public sector unions about the need to get more productive with work practises. At the same time, there would be an immediate and measureable decrease in the public sector wage bills. In Ireland, especially this year, the May Bank Holiday falls very close to the Easter holidays. Around Easter, it's possible to enjoy several back-to-back four day work weeks which immediately reduces Ireland to a Mediterranean work pattern (without the sun). For those who really want to kick back and enjoy a springtime holiday, there's nothing wrong with using annual leave for that purpose. In the meantime, I think that a marker needs to be put under the national debt and there is no clearer international signal to show Irish resolution than to cancel the traditional May Bank Holiday.
Image from my April garden in County Tipperary.
