Sinn Féin proposes annual 1916 public holiday

Legislation to provide for an annual public holiday to commemorate the 1916 Rising has been introduced in the Dáil.

The Public Holidays (Lá na Poblachta) Bill 2016 was introduced by Sinn Féin’s Aengus Ó Snodaigh to be marked each year on April 24th, the anniversary of the attempted revolution.

Mr Ó Snodaigh has made a previous attempt for such a vote-getting holiday, but it was rejected last year by the Fine Gael Labour government, which had a majority.

Government Chief Whip Regina Doherty said in the Dáil on Thursday that the minority administration would not oppose the reading of the legislation, which would be taken in private member's time.

‘Public interest’

Mr Ó Snodaigh said the Bill would amend the 1997 Organisation of Working Time Act and would establish a body to be known as Bord Lá na Poblachta.

The Dublin South Central TD said that given the “seemingly insatiable public interest in the various 1916 commemorations” it would be appropriate to designate an annual “Lá na Poblachta” to honour the ideals of the Proclamation of the Irish Republic.

“Events would be organised on that day throughout the 32 counties and it would be designated a public holiday to help facilitate public participation in those events.”

He also believed acceptance of the Bill would “encourage the study of the Proclamation and the ideals contained within it and of citizenship”.

Mr Ó Snodaigh said “it would be appropriate, given the year we have had, that 24 April 1916 be remembered on this day, the day the Proclamation of the Irish Republic was read at the GPO 100 years ago.”