If the proposed change happens, winter evenings will be brighter and Ireland could have a different time to Northern Ireland.

The European Commission is considering scrapping ‘daylight savings’ - the twice-yearly changes to time. 

Under current legislation, all 28 European Union states are required to adjust their clocks on the last Sundays in March and October (“spring forward, fall back” as they say.)

EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker has said that the citizens of Europe must be consulted ahead of the ultimate decision.

Juncker said if that people are in favor of ditching the bi-annual clock change, then the European Commission “will make it happen”.

Jean-Claude Juncker said the European Commission would advise getting rid of daylight savings time https://t.co/ylKINltB2v

— POLITICO Europe (@POLITICOEurope) August 31, 2018

“We carried out a survey, millions responded and believe that in future, summer time should be year-round, and that’s what will happen,” he said.

“I will recommend to the commission that, if you ask the citizens, then you have to do what the citizens say.

“We will decide on this today, and then it will be the turn of the member states and the European Parliament.”

If the daylight savings convention is scrapped, Ireland could end up on a different time to Northern Ireland and the UK after Brexit opted out of the European Union - prompting fears of an "Irish time border".

The Belfast Telegraph reports that a spokesman for the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy in London said, "The UK Government has no current plans to change Daylight Saving Time."

DUP MP Sammy Wilson said, "Brussels may wish to turn the clock back to the good old days when the UK was under their control, but they've no chance.

"There will be no second referendum, they are not going to change our time zone, and they're not going to change our minds. We're leaving. Full stop."

EU unveils plan to STOP annual changing of clocks – sparking fears of Irish time border https://t.co/bSSdMssN24 pic.twitter.com/OEJNyRurkY

— WORLD_PRESS_CO_UK (@WORLDPRESSUK1) August 31, 2018

UUP MLA Alan Chambers also said,  "There is quite simply no prospect of Northern Ireland ever having a different time zone to the rest of the United Kingdom, regardless of who or what is advancing such an idea."

"As far as the Ulster Unionist Party is concerned, Northern Ireland will be staying very firmly in the same time zone as the rest of the United Kingdom," he added.

According to The Guardian, an online poll found that more than 80% of Europeans were against the routine of changing their clocks twice a year.

However those in favor of daylight savings noted that longer bright evenings in the summer help save energy and “improve productivity”. Reasons against include negative impacts on mental health.

MEP Deirdre Clune told the Irish Mirror that she believes the time has come to scrap the clocks changing entirely claiming it’s “a relic from a bygone era that no longer serves a useful purpose”.

“Having brighter evenings in winter would lead to improved outcomes for road safety as the roads are statistically more dangerous from the hours of 4-7pm,” she noted.

Welcome news that the @EU_Commission will recommend that EU Member States abolish daylight saving. I have campaigned for this for a long time - 4.6 million people made submissions during the public consultation period and I am very pleased with the outcome https://t.co/GrnrnEQAHR

— Deirdre Clune (@DeirdreCluneMEP) August 31, 2018

“There are obvious economic benefits such as reduced energy consumption because of less need for artificial light in the evenings with a consequent reduction in CO2 emissions.

“Brighter evenings in winter would have a positive benefit for public health,” she concluded.