David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

This topic has been discussed over many years. The former Deputy Tommy Broughan, the late Senator Feargal Quinn and I and, most recently, Senator Tim Lombard have raised this issue in these Houses. Numerous reports have been carried out here and abroad on this. The fact of the matter is that approximately 12 days from now, winter will have arrived. The clocks will go back one hour and we will have dark evenings. One week from now, sunset will be at 6:20 p.m. and two weeks from now, it will be dark just after 5 p.m.

Many arguments have been put forward over the years with regard to road safety and the benefit to tourism of having brighter evenings; this would also benefit shopping, retail, farming and recreation and, even in the United States, it was found that when an adjustment was made, crime levels fell because criminals like darkness - they do not like light.

In July, the EU Ministers reached a political agreement on a voluntary reduction of natural gas demand by 15% this winter. The world changed on 24 February 2022 and the big imperative now is energy. Arguments have been made and people such as Professor Aoife Foley have said that if we maintain summertime, households could save between €250 and €400 per year. We would also reach the situation of reducing the gas and electricity we use and have longer evenings for all kinds of reasons. The world changed on 24 February when Russia invaded Ukraine. We must do all we can in Ireland and in Europe to reduce energy consumption and the amount of electricity we use. One argument is that it be done by not moving the clocks. Another is that the moving of the clocks be deferred.

I note that in Ireland, for instance, we moved the clocks forward on 27 March. In the United States, it was done two weeks earlier on 13 March. On the other side of the year, in Ireland, we move the clocks back on 30 October and in the United States they wait until 6 November. The United States has gained three weeks of summertime. We could do more than that. We could move the clocks in the spring in early February and, again, a bit later at this time of the year if it would be palatable to have summertime all year round.

It would save quite a lot of money for people and there would be many other benefits as well. Private Members' Bills have been discussed in these Houses and in committees over the years. Europe has said we can do it. I know there are issues with Northern Ireland and the UK but perhaps it is time now, in light of what is happening in Ukraine, to have a serious discussion about this to see whether we can save energy and bring all of the other benefits that have been discussed, looked at and agreed over many years to this issue.

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