{"id":8483,"date":"2019-07-17T10:43:41","date_gmt":"2019-07-17T14:43:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=8483"},"modified":"2019-07-20T10:44:38","modified_gmt":"2019-07-20T14:44:38","slug":"government-to-oppose-eus-daylight-saving-time-change","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=8483","title":{"rendered":"Government to Oppose EU’s Daylight Saving Time Change"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"The Government is set to oppose the EU\u2019s proposed change to daylight saving time to ensure the island of Ireland does not end up with two time zones post-Brexit.<\/p>\n

Justice minister Charlie Flanagan is expected to seek Cabinet approval on Wednesday to oppose the EU\u2019s plans to abolish seasonal clock changes.<\/p>\n

The European Commission set out proposals last year for an end to the annual ritual of changing the clocks in the spring and autumn.<\/p>\n

Member states have to decide this year whether they want to choose permanent summer or winter time and end the twice-yearly clock changes.<\/p>\n

But if Brexit goes ahead, the UK may not have to adhere to the changes.<\/p>\n

There are concerns that if it did not, Northern Ireland could find itself in a different time zone from the Republic for six months of the year.<\/p>\n

It is understood that Mr Flanagan will ask his cabinet colleagues to reject the proposal to prevent that situation arising.<\/p>\n

It is also believed he has concerns that member states having different time zones could lead to confusion within the single market.<\/p>\n

The UK is also opposed to the proposal.<\/p>\n

The UK and Ireland have shared the same clock times since 1916.<\/p>\n

At present European time zones are only determined by geographical location on an east to west basis.<\/p>\n

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