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

I thank the Minister of State for letting us know he lives on the bright side of Ireland. Long may he continue to enjoy that. I agree with him that the main stumbling block is having two time zones on the island of Ireland. A number of years ago there was a Private Member's Bill in the House of Commons proposing to maintain summertime all year round. It ran out of time but there was much support for it. If time had not run out on it, we might not be discussing this today. It was very close. I believe the Prime Minister of the time was in favour of it as well but it ran into the sand and has not been resurrected since. Other things have taken over.

As I said earlier, the world has changed since last February. Energy security and energy costings are very important. I noticed today the UK is fearful of having blackouts and having gas curtailed. That could impact on us as well. We must do everything we can to avoid that. I remember that in the 1970s the clocks did not change because of a similar energy crisis. The Leas-Cheann Comhairle probably recalls it too as she is likely of the same vintage as me. I remember being in a classroom when the sun was coming up at dawn because we were conserving energy. It worked then and could work now. This certainly deserves debate. I agree with the Minister of State that all of Europe, the UK and Ireland should jump together on this one. We do not want a patchwork of time zones.

I ask that the Minister for Justice go back to Europe and consult colleagues. We live in a different time with respect to energy security, energy supply and energy cost. I mentioned all the other benefits that come from this as well. Now is the time to start talking about it. It too late to change it ahead of the upcoming adjustment at the end of this month, but perhaps in the spring we might be talking and making different points, and people might decide to change earlier rather than moving it forward. I cannot understand why we are so far away from the equinox in springtime either. It should be changed in early February and let us have the summer early.

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