Damien McCarthy

It must be costed properly.

And it must only have a positive impact on our economy, not a negative impact.

Well, just in response to that, I disagree from the wellbeing point of view when young people leaving the country because we don't have enough public holidays.

I think there's other elements of politics and governmental mistakes there with regards to housing and cost of living and so on.

Look, I suppose every

popular idea seems to impact employers, the hardworking employers, the family businesses, the SMEs in this country.

Statutory sick pay, for example, was bought in.

It was very good workers' rights legislation.

but it had to be paused at five days because SME businesses couldn't afford to, for the ramp up into seven days and 10 days.

So actually statutory sick pay should have been 10 days this year.

It couldn't be implemented because small businesses couldn't take it.

So, you know, to look after people's wellbeing in the workplace, to keep people in the country or young people and our skilled workers,

I don't think more public holidays is the answer.

I think there's good public holidays that work for workers who pay their taxes, who work for employers who pay their taxes.

And, you know, implementing, you know, a public holiday on the last Monday in November when, you know, there's going to be no boost to the economy like the February one, like we're in a cost of living crisis.

So where do people all of a sudden get the money to boost the economy domestically four weeks out from Christmas?

Or six weeks.

Yeah, but that spending is happening anyway, Max, so it's not too steady.