European Parliament votes to push ahead with the scrapping of the seasonal clock changes

The European Parliament has today said that seasonal clock changes should be abolished in 2021 and it is up to the Member States to choose between winter or summer time. The Member States, including Ireland, have until next year (1st April 2020) to decide whether they want to stay on summertime or not.

Today, a large majority of MEPs voted in favour of the Transport and Tourism’s proposal to abolish the seasonal clock change in 2021. It is now up to the Member States to choose between summer or standard time. Those choosing summer time should do the switch on the last Sunday in March 2021. Countries that prefer to keep the standard time may do so from the last Sunday in October 2021.

Ireland South MEP Deirdre Clune said is very much in favour of abolishing the clock changes but there need to be measures put in place if it does go ahead.

“Should significant problems arise, for example with timetables in the transport sector or flight schedules for airlines, in this case, the EU Commission has the possibility to trigger a 12-month delay of the legislation in order to change it to deal with the problems,” said MEP Clune.

MEP Clune said: “I am very much in favour of abolishing the seasonal time changes. It is high time to address this now. Its introduction did not lead to the expected benefits, such as energy savings. Instead, there are serious warnings from doctors about health hazards caused by the bi-annual time change.”

In an online consultation by the European Commission conducted last year, more than 80 per cent of the participants expressed their support for the abolition of the seasonal clock-change.

MEP Clune said: “This is an issue that affects everybody. I have been working with various parties for many years to push forward these changes. I welcome this move by the Committee and we need to now push forward at Member State level with plans.

“There are many benefits to ending the process of changing the clocks each year such as improved outcomes for road safety and economic benefits. In addition, brighter evenings in winter would have a positive benefit for public health,” added MEP Clune.

Late last year Minister for Justice and Equality, Charlie Flanagan TD announced a consultation asking members of the public whether they are in favour of abandoning the current system and, if they are, whether they would prefer to stay constantly on “summer time” or “winter time”.

MEP Clune added: “Summertime arrangements in the EU require that the clocks are changed twice per year in order to cater for the changing patterns of daylight and to take advantage of the available daylight in a given period.”