Lviv, Oct. 13 (Interfax-Ukraine) – Verkhovna Rada Chairman Volodymyr Lytvyn has said that parliament may again consider the issue of daylight saving time in Ukraine.
"I think it’s necessary to consider this issue calmly, and reach the kind of decision people need. I think if a wrong decision was taken, then nothing terrible will happen if we admit [it]," Lytvyn said at a press conference in Lviv on Tuesday.
Lytvyn added that before the tabling of the bill on the cancellation of daylight saving time in parliament, he had asked the government about possible losses.
The cabinet said that Fuel and Energy Complex would lose Hr 300 million, but that there would be no other losses.
Nevertheless, the parliament received both criticism and proposals immediately after the adoption of the bill, he said.
Lytvyn said that because of this he would seek the opinions of specialists, such as doctors and economists, and also the opinion of the Cabinet of Ministers, in order to study this issue.
"First, the Cabinet of Ministers should stick to a single point, second, it’s necessary to attentively study the opinion of specialists. And if necessary, [we have to] reach a well-considered decision, taking into account another factor – [canceling daylight saving time] might create discomfort for the western regions of Ukraine in particular," the speaker added.
On Sept. 20, the Verkhovna Rada decided to cancel daylight saving time.
"The Verkhovna Rada adopts a bill to fix the time of the second time zone by adding one hour on the territory of Ukraine from March 27, 2011," the bill reads.
On Oct. 5, Emergencies Minister of Ukraine Viktor Baloha asked Verkhovna Rada Chairman Volodymyr Lytvyn to initiate the reconsideration of the parliamentary decision to cancel daylight saving time in Ukraine.
He said the decision of the Verkhovna Rada to cancel daylight saving time had all of the necessary legal grounds to be appealed against in court.
The Western Regional Council has also asked the Verkhovna Rada to cancel the bill.
