§ MR. DILLONI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department will he explain why, in Ireland, the factory inspectors refuse to recognise the Roman Catholic holidays, and, by so doing, compel some mills managed by Roman Catholics to give a number of holidays far in excess of statutory requirements?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENTThe Factory Acts require holidays to be given on Christmas Day and St. Patrick's Day, and either on Good Friday or Easter Monday. The choice of the other holidays required to make up the prescribed total for the year lies entirely with the factory owners. The Roman Catholic holidays may be, and usually are, chosen by them, and are recognised by the inspectors. The holidays fixed by statute must be given; but I feel certain that no inspector insists on holidays "far in excess of the statutory requirements."