No reason for us to face the winter gloom

IN a few short weeks we are again to be plunged onto gloom.

This time it won’t be the economy or the banks. It will be something our government can control without any excuses.

I refer, of course, to “winter time”. It is possibly the most stupid of the many stupid things we do as a nation. The benefits of retaining “summer time” all year round would be huge.

* Shorter use of artificial lighting with a saving in energy and hard cash.

* Children would have the opportunity to play outdoors in the evenings for much longer.

* We would keep the same time as most of western Europe.

* No messing about with clocks and watches twice a year,

* Fewer people suffering Seasonably Affective Disorder.

There is no real reason to plunge ourselves into gloom any more than necessary.

Avoiding it just requires a little courage on the part of the Minister for the Environment. Is this too much to ask? Or, are we back to dithering and time wasting again now that Lisbon is over.

Patrick Browne

Skehard Rd

Blackrock

Cork