A Fianna Fáil senator has called for a new bank holiday to coincide with the Late Late Toy Show.
Fiona O'Loughlin says the last Friday in November is an institution for children and families all across the country, and there should be the "sense of a national holiday" around it.
It comes amid a push for an extra bank holiday to be introduced next year, potentially to coincide with St Brigid's Day.
However, Senator O'Loughlin told The Hard Shoulder she actually wants to see two extra bank holidays next year - one on St Brigid's Day, and another to coincide with the toy show.
She said she was inspired by a 10-year-old boy from Co Meath who is looking to start a petition to make toy show day a day off.
Senator O'Loughlin said she 'absolutely supports' that petition.
She observed: “I think we all want to believe in the magic of Christmas, and the Late Late Toy Show is really an institution.
“Particularly last year… it was a dark time for all of us. But the magic [of the toy show]... everyone tuned in and listened, and the voices of the young people who were on resonated that night.”
As well as making toy show day a day off, Senator O'Loughlin also believes the annual show should start earlier in the evening
She said: “If there was a sense of a national holiday around it… no homework on the day... then children could get ready, possibly not long after dinnertime.
“Young people and children’s voices are important in everything we do - we need to listen to them.”
This year's Late Late Toy Show is being broadcast this coming Friday.
