The senator believes it would be “a tree-mendous idea”.
Fianna Fáil senator in Kildare Fiona O’Loughlin has called for a new bank holiday to coincide with The Late Late Toy Show.
The call comes amid enhanced discussions in recent months over increasing the number of bank holiday days in Ireland in order to honour frontline staff for their work during the pandemic and to meet European Union standards.
While many countries in the EU have 12 annual bank holidays, Ireland only has nine.
In a statement on Tuesday, O’Loughlin said she was “delighted” to lend her support to a petition for a new bank holiday to line-up with the Christmas TV event.
“Every year, all of us look forward to the last Friday in November,” the senator stated.
“The Late Late Toy Show is an institution for children of all ages and has played a big part in Christmas for many years now.
“For so many it is the beginning of the most wonderful time of the year.
“I feel it deserves to be recognised as a festive stand out in the lead up to Christmas.
“To recognise its significance in this regard, and to help children up and down the country prepare for the big night, I think it would be a tree-mendous idea to give them a dedicated bank holiday on that day.”
Whether or not O’Loughlin’s call becomes a reality, a new bank holiday is not likely to come into effect before the next Late Late Toy Show which takes place this Friday (26 November) on RTÉ One and the RTÉ Player.
You can watch a teaser for the return of the national institution below.
Clip via The Late Late Show
Main images via Sam Boal / RollingNews.ie
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