asked the Minister for Justice if he will state whether before the making of the Emergency Powers (No. 22) Order, 1940, any representations were made in favour of making such order and, if so, whether he will state the nature of such representations; and if no such representations were made, whether he will state the grounds on which it has been decided to extend to the 25th February the operation of the Summer Time Act.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Summer Time.
The order in question was made in the following circumstances:—
When it was announced at the end of January that summer time was to come into operation in Great Britain and Northern Ireland on the 25th of February, whilst it would not, in the ordinary way, come into operation in this State until the 21st of April, the Government had to consider whether it would not be advisable to introduce summer time here on the 25th of February also, as a special measure, in order to avoid the confusion which would be caused by a difference in time, for a period of eight weeks, between countries which normally operate on the same time system. An immediate decision was essential so that interested parties, such as railway companies, might know where they stood in the matter.
The Government were advised that the timing of our rail services is dependent to a large extent on the times of sailing of the cross-channel boats and that as these boats, which are timed to meet British trains, would follow summer time, it would be necessary for the railway companies to retime nearly all their trains for the eight weeks commencing on the 25th of February, if summer time were not introduced in this country on that date. They were advised also that a serious disturbance would be caused in mail, telegraph and telephone communications with Great Britain and Northern Ireland if there were to be a temporary discrepancy in the official time systems.
It was, of course, appreciated that from the point of view of purely internal administration there were both advantages and disadvantages in making summer time operative at so early a date. On the whole, it seemed clear to the Government that the balance of advantage lay in adopting the earlier date and the order was made accordingly.
Am I to understand that no matter what alterations Britain, for the purposes of her economy, makes in her Greenwich time we are automatically bound to follow because the considerations to which the Minister refers would apply probably even in a more intensified form if the disparity were more than an hour? Why cannot we think of this problem of time from our own standpoint rather than from the point of view of transport communications?
The Deputy knows well that it is from our own point of view we are considering it.
I asked the Minister for Justice a supplementary question.
Mr. Boland
The Deputy has got a fairly good answer from the Taoiseach.
The master's voice.
Mr. Boland
The Deputy is well aware that the whole question of summer time is to be considered. The question as to whether summer time is to be continued here or not is under consideration. In the meantime, for the reasons I have given, it was considered most advisable not to have such a difference in time for a short period. The decision that will be made eventually as to whether summer time will be continued here or not will depend on the case that is made before this commission.
I think if the Minister examines his own reply in relation to what he has just now said the inconsistency in his attitude will be manifest even to himself. Presumably if what the Minister indicated to-day was the Government policy this commission will be coerced into taking the same viewpoint when it comes to considering this matter and will not be permitted——
Does the Deputy wish to ask a question?
Oh, yes, Sir. I was proceeding to ask it.
The Deputy must be brief.
It was brief up to that. I want to inquire from the Minister why, without any consideration of this issue by any committee of persons looking at the matter from our standpoint, he felt it necessary to follow, willy nilly, the practice adopted by Britain for an entirely different purpose. Is the Minister not aware that Britain can manage to maintain transport communications with other coun tries and other countries with Britain even though they are not on the same time basis?
The difference is a permanent difference. This is a difference of eight weeks.
Mr. Boland
I have nothing to add to what I have already said.
Will the Minister say whether the members of the Government are adopting the new time or whether they will still be behind the rest of the country?
Mr. Boland
What does the Deputy mean by that? Does he want us to come in an hour earlier in the morning?
Is the Minister aware of the confusion that exists throughout the country as the result of thus advancing the clock by one hour? Take for instance Cork City. One group of schools in Cork City have adopted the new time; another group are working on the old time and still another group have gone mid-way. Why not have it one way or the other?
Mr. Boland
That will be settled.
Some towns have not adopted summer time.