Debate over moving clocks forward

BRITISH Prime Minister David Cameron’s proposal to move British clocks forward by an hour all year round and thus match up with the near continent have been given short shrift by the Irish Government and experts.

The perennial debate in Britain divides the state along north/south lines. The English home counties’ farming and tourism representatives favour any possible move to so-called “double summertime,” which would be two hours ahead of Greenwich meantime and was last used during the Second World War, but the people of Scotland strongly oppose such a move which would result in children travelling to school in darkness, with sunrise not occurring in most areas until 10am.

With the economic and cultural ties between Britain and Ireland, and the possibility that the North would be part of any switch to British double summer time, the Republic would likely have little option but follow suit if a change did occur.