Ireland should use EU Presidency to push for end to seasonal clock changes, MEP says

Eva Osborne

Ireland should use its upcoming EU Presidency to push for an end to seasonal clock changes, MEP Seán Kelly has said.

The clocks jumped forward by an hour last night, switching to 2am when it hit 1am.

Fine Gael MEP Kelly has spent the past decade campaigning to scrap the twice-yearly switch.

He said the clocks going forward leads to an increase in health defects like strokes and sleeping difficulties.

"The benefits are very few, if any," he said.

"So now, with the presidency coming up, many MEPs have come up to me to try and put it on the agenda.

"To show that we won't be moving the clocks anymore, and hopefully we can give it one last push."

He said last night's clock change should be "the last time we ever have to do it".

“People love the longer evenings, the extra daylight, and what we fondly refer to as the ‘grand stretch in the evenings’.

"It lifts the mood, it gets people outdoors and the benefits for everyone in terms of both mental and physical health are undeniable.”