Privilege Days Proposal Rejected

Government proposals to reduce privilege days off for civil servants has been rejected by an arbitration board.

It had been argued that revising the system would increase productivity saving an additional €4.6m a year.

However, the board highlighted that the employer had not demonstrated savings consistent with the required reform.

The two privilege days will converted into additional days of annual leave for civil servants.

The Government are now expected to address the issue of privilege days and leave across the public service, not just the civil service.

Under British rule, each year Irish civil servants were entitled to extra days leave called privilege days - one to mark the King's birthday, and one to mark Empire Day.

Following independence, civil servants retained the entitlement to the two privilege days - one at Christmas, and one at Easter.

However, as part of the Croke Park transformation process, the Government planned to abolish privilege days.

Unions warned the move would not benefit public service, and that Government proposals would distort existing differentials between different grades.

However, the arbitration board chaired by Senior Counsel Turlough O'Donnell found that the Government had not demonstrated that significant savings would be made.

They added that the ruling should not be regarded as a setback.

(BMcN/GK)