Irish civil servants could lose ‘privilege days’

Two “privilege days” of leave a year enjoyed by Irish civil servants for decades may be abolished if new government proposals on public-service reform are implemented.

Introduced in the 1940s to give rural public servants a day’s grace to travel back to their job in the capital after the Christmas and Easter holidays, unions have long resisted their abolition, arguing that while travel conditions have improved dramatically, privilege days are now part of terms and conditions.
 

It’s untenable to have a normal retirement age in public-sector schemes that is significantly different from the state retirement age

Brian Bailey, Director of pensions, West Midlands Pension Fund and member of High Pay Commission