MOVE WOULD CUT CARBON EMISSIONS, CUT ROAD DEATHS AND BOOST TOURISM  

Labour MEP Nessa Childers today welcomed the overwhelming vote in Westminster which means the UK will conduct a full analysis of the benefits of moving to Central European Time and then to carry out a three-year trial.

She stated "We should now seriously consider following the UK example and examine the impacts of such a move on Ireland. We could not have a situation where Newry would have a different timezone from Dundalk. And even if the UK does not take this sensible step, I believe we on the island on Ireland should move to the Central European timezone ourselves. It makes sense from a business, environmental and road safety point of view.

"Such a change would save energy and cut our carbon emissions by more closely matching the times when most of us are awake with the times that the sun is shining, we would reduce our daily need for electric lighting. Think about a summer day: few people are awake at, say, 5am when the sun comes up, but most homes have their lights on at 9.30pm when the sun goes down.

"Making evenings lighter also saves lives on our roads. Because most people tend to make longer and more complicated journeys after work and school than they do at the start of their day, it’s safer for them to make afternoon and early evening journeys while it’s still light outside.

"Leisure and tourism is a huge industry in Ireland but in need of a boost right now, and by shifting the clocks forward we would give that industry’s an all important extra hour to open the gates and take custom.