Ireland South MEP Cynthia Ní Mhurchú says there is a growing chorus of MEPs in the European Parliament who are in favour of scrapping the bi-annual changing of the clocks. The Ireland South MEP has backed calls in Brussels for an evidence-based approach to the impacts of the biannual changing of the clocks.
As households across the country wind their clocks forward, and summertime officially arrives, MEP Cynthia Ní Mhurchú has called for an evidence-based approach to the biannual changing of the clocks across Europe. The MEP wants to see more research on how the clock change is impacting on our sleep patterns, impacting on energy, health, agriculture, and transport across Europe.
The winding of the clocks may herald the beginning of longer brighter evenings, but Ní Mhurchú says we need more research to understand the impact on us – and on industry and agriculture.
“Everyone loves longer summer evenings, but when the clocks revert by an hour in the winter, it means higher energy bills because we are turning on the lights more. It also impacts on people’s mental health, anxiety, and depression. Not to mention the sleep disruption that comes from the changing of the clocks”
“Brighter evenings in winter would have a positive benefit for public health. One study of 23,000 children, published by the BBC, found that their daily activity levels were 15 to 20 per cent higher on summer days than winter days and that moving the clocks back in winter causes a five per cent drop in physical activity”.
“The very least we should do is commission in-depth research across a range of areas that are impacted by the changing of the clocks. We also need to continue debating whether it is a good idea to keep doing this twice a year!”
According to a European Commission online consultation, from 2018, which received 4.6 million responses from all Member States, 84% of respondents were in favour of putting an end to the bi-annual clock change. The results echo a growing chorus of MEPs who are in favour of scrapping the biannual changing of the clocks
The European Commission and the European Parliament will continue dialogue on the issue of the changing of the clocks. Talks have stalled since the UK left the EU and agreement would have to be reached with the UK to move in unison.
ENDS:
