I move:
That Dáil Éireann hereby approves the Summer Time (No. 2) Order, 1961, made by the Minister for Justice under the Summer Time Act, 1925 (No. 8 of 1925).
The Order provides that the period of Summer Time this year will be from 25th March to 28th October, which is practically identical with the period of Summer Time we had in 1961. If the Order were not made the period of Summer Time this year would be from 16th April to 8th October. The effect of the Order, therefore, is to lengthen the period of Summer Time by six weeks altogether, three weeks in the Spring and three weeks in the Autumn. The period of summer time now proposed is that which has already been fixed by Britain and the Six Counties and it is to synchronise with them that we have made the Order. Otherwise, while we would have the same time as they have for the greater part of the year, there would be two short periods in the Spring when we would differ from them by an hour. This would cause difficulties in relation to cross-Channel traffic, postal services and so on. It is to avoid this that the Order is made. I recommend the Order for the approval of the House.