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Ireland

Irish Cabinet opposes EU time change plan

cde.news desk · 1 min read
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epa06990252 A sculpture made of clock faces stands outside the Gare Saint Lazare train station in Paris, France, 01 September 2018. The European Union is on the verge of deciding whether or not to abolish the bi-annual time change between summer and winter time, after a online survey received overwhelming support to stop the clock changes, with over 84 per cent of the vote. The initiative was put forward by European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker. EPA-EFE/IAN LANGSDON

The Irish government will oppose an EU proposal that would end seasonal clock changes because it could result in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland being in different time zones.

Irish Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan was seeking the approval of his ministerial colleagues to oppose the proposal and to lobby other EU states on the issue.

A qualified majority – 55% of member states representing at least 65% of the EU’s population – is needed for the plan to be implemented.

The Irish government believes it cannot agree to any move that could result in different time zones on the island of Ireland, irrespective of Brexit.

It also fears that the proposed change could lead to a “patchwork” of time zones across the EU at a time when there is a lot of EU talk about the integrity of the single market.

The European Commission last year announced it was planning a directive to come into effect in 2021.

It would abolish the twice-yearly changes, making member states decide which time zone they wanted to remain in permanently.

Via BBC/ Independent.ie/Irish Times

Filed under EU CommissionEuropean UnionIreland
Topics IrelandSummer Timetime change

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