Feargal Quinn (Independent)

For some 16 years, I have been seeking that we and Britain should join Central European Time as this would give us an extra hour all evening, every evening of the year. I am delighted to inform the House that the British and the British House of Commons have listened to me and at a meeting last week, the Irish Government said that if the British were moving in that direction, we would do the same. It would appear that the British have decided to take the next step in the process of joining Central European Time. The advantages are significant and I will not bore the House with those details but they have been articulated in many ways. One of the figures mentioned last week was the savings in energy consumption which an extra hour of daylight all year would provide. We would be on the same time as central Europe and the only country left outside would be Portugal.

Sometimes in this House we may get tired of not being listened to when we ask for something to be done. However, this is a good news story for all of us. I think we are being listened to and I think it is quite likely there will be a three-year test of this some time in a couple of years. If the British are going to move and we move - I agree it is wise for us to move only when the British move because otherwise there would be a different time zone between Dundalk and Newry and between Dublin and Belfast. I think the benefits are such that the British will move. The Bill will go through Parliament in the near future and in my view, this House should take credit for it.