1. Each of the following days shall, subject to the subsequent provisions of this Schedule, be a public holiday for the purposes of this Act:

(a) Christmas Day,

(b) St. Stephen’s Day,

(c) St. Patrick’s Day,

(d) Easter Monday, the first Monday in May, the first Monday in June and the first Monday in August,

(e) the last Monday in October,

(f) the 1st day of January,

(g) any other day or days prescribed for the purposes of this paragraph.

2. The Minister may by regulations vary paragraph 1 by substituting for any day referred to in that paragraph another day.

3. An employer may, for the purpose of fulfilling any relevant obligation imposed on him or her by this Act, treat as a public holiday, in lieu of a public holiday aforesaid, either—

(a) the Church holiday falling in the same year immediately before the public holiday, or

(b) the Church holiday falling in the same year immediately after the public holiday or, if the public holiday is a day which is a public holiday by virtue of paragraph 1 (b), the 6th day of January next following,

by giving to the employee concerned notice of his or her intention to do so not less than 14 days before the Church holiday (where that holiday is before the public holiday) or before the public holiday (where that holiday is before the Church holiday or, as the case may be, the said 6th day of January).

4. Each of the following days shall be a Church holiday for the purposes of paragraph 3:

(a) the 6th day of January, except when falling on a Sunday,

(b) Ascension Thursday,

(c) the Feast of Corpus Christi,

(d) the 15th day of August, except when falling on a Sunday,

(e) the 1st day of November, except when falling on a Sunday,

(f) the 8th day of December, except when falling on a Sunday,

(g) any other day or days prescribed for the purposes of this paragraph.

5. The Minister may by regulations vary paragraph 4 by deleting from that paragraph any day or by substituting, for any day referred to therein, another day.

6. A notice under paragraph 3 may be given by delivering a copy of the notice to the employee concerned or by posting a copy of the notice in a conspicuous position in the place of the employee’s employment.