International Time Zones

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 24 October 2012

Wednesday, 24 October 2012

Ceisteanna (39)

Noel Harrington

Ceist:

39. Deputy Noel Harrington asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 10 and 16 of 32 June 2011, if he will report any developments or discussions that have occurred since with either his British or European counterparts and arising from this, if he will seek submissions from the public and organisations and State Departments on the implications, benefits or disadvantages to Ireland if our time zone was changed to European time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46309/12]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice and Equality

I wish to inform the Deputy that my Department has not held discussions with either our British or other European counterparts in relation to changing our time zone since June 2011. I can further inform the Deputy that a report entitled Review of the scope, quality and robustness of available evidence regarding putting the clocks forward by one hour, the year round, in the UK was prepared for the United Kingdom's Department for Business Innovation & Skills and published on that Department's website on 13 August, 2012. The report may be accessed via the following link (http://www.bis.gov.uk/assets/biscore/employment-matters/docs/r/12-1036-review-evidence-putting-clocks-forward). Finally, I wish to advise the Deputy that I have no plans at this time to seek submissions from the public and organisations and State Departments on the implications, benefits or disadvantages to Ireland in relation to changing our time zone to "European time". However, officials of my Department and the Department of Foreign Affairs are keeping a close watch on the issue and should the position I have outlined change I will review the situation.