EDITORIAL: Summer time all year round?

AFTER the summer we’ve have so far, wouldn’t it be nice to have it all year round? Whatever about the weather, maybe we’ll get to have summer time for 12 months, depending on the outcome and actions arising from a public consultation that is currently being carried out by the European Commission on the bi-annual clock change, governed by the EU Summertime Directive.

Last February, the European Parliament called on the Commission to carry out a thorough re-assessment of the Directive and, if there was a need, to propose a revision of the system. It was meant to make the roads safer for children walking to school on winter mornings, but very few of them walk nowadays, perhaps only those in built-up areas with public lighting. 

According to Ireland South’s Sean Kelly, who is part of a cross-party group of MEPs campaigning for a review of Daylight Savings Time (DST), ‘studies have shown its detrimental consequences on citizens’ sleep and health, and related issues with weakened immunity, increased anxiety and depression in some cases.’ He said that some farmers also witnessed an impact on their animals, particularly dairy farmers when cows must hold their milk for an extra hour.

Mr Kelly is encouraging all EU citizens to have their say on whether we should be maintaining DST (Summer Time) all year round by completing a questionnaire online between now and August 16th on www.ec.europa.eu/eusurvey/runner/2018-summertime-arrangements?surveylanguage=EN