Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy may be aware that the Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality considered the matters raised by the Brighter Evenings Bill 2012, including public submissions on this issue, and submitted a report to me recommending that the proposal be kept under review. The Committee was impressed by the benefits of introducing summer time for a longer portion of the year in the event of any future review of European legislation.

Having considered the Committee's report, and noted the recommendations made, my Department will continue to keep the matters raisedin the Brighter Evenings Bill under review, including the changing of our time zone arrangements for atrial period as a joint venture with the United Kingdom.

My Department will also keep under review the idea of extending the period of summer time, currently from the last Sunday of March to the last Sunday of October each year, bearing in mind member states' EU-wideobligations in this regard.