Irish government to oppose EU proposal to end daylight savings

The move could lead to two time-zones in Ireland post-Brexit.

The Irish government are to oppose the European Union's proposal to end daylight savings. Minister for Justice Charlie Flanagan will ask the government to reject the policy to avoid the possibility of two separate time zones existing in Ireland and Northern Ireland after Brexit. There is also concerns that ending the seasonal clock changes could lead to a "patchwork" of EU time zones across the continent. RTE reports that research involving the general public and government departments showed that the majority of people in Ireland would prefer brighter evenings in the winter. However, a considerable 80 percent of those surveyed objected to two different time zones operating in Ireland and Northern Ireland. Ending daylight savings would mean stopping the season clock changes and deciding on a permanent summer or winter time. The European Parliament voted to abolish the changes by 2021 earlier this year, but 55 percent of current EU member states must support the move for it to come into action. The UK is also opposing the plan.