Benefits of simplifying time zones not heard in debate

THE Government is refusing progress by opposing a perfectly sensible idea from the EU to get rid of winter/summer time and finally eliminate an old-fashioned burdensome practice.

Most EU countries agreed to this. Politicians are saying this would mean “multiple” time zones in Ireland. (I thought I might have to change my watch going to Dublin!)

Supposedly the logic is that Northern Ireland will continue to follow the British way. So they will continue to change their clocks, watches, phones, computers, TVs, microwaves, cameras and security systems twice a year.

But now we will have to continue to do the same, presumably in case we cross the Border. How totally bizarre.

People argue about how bright it is when kids are going to school but any institution, including schools and workplaces, can change their start or end times to suit.

People then argue in response that businesses need fixed time frames to work with, so fine, then let’s fix it at one standard and let business decide about how they deal with that.

RTÉ’s news report on the matter briefly interviewed two people who wanted to keep it as is – one from the North and another from near the Border.

Not one dissenter was invited who wants to eliminate the huge inefficiency associated with this. Where’s the other side of this debate (if it even is a debate)?

With the internet and everything becoming ever more global, people should think again about this.

The current situation can throw up huge anomalies which can be solved by simplifying – ie eliminating – the current practice.

You don’t often get the opportunity to improve things for nothing. Yet our Government opposes it because whatever happens in Northern Ireland, we want to be the same at all costs.

This makes absolutely no sense. John Jennings

Westport, Co Mayo