Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

There is going to be a question about electricity being generated and electricity being required. I have a concern we may effectively see data centres in competition with other public good needs for which we might need electricity. I wish to signal that is something that needs to be looked at. I understand the IDA will have its imperatives but on this committee, we will need to try to join up those pieces. It is one thing if a data centre is providing an essential service or backing up something but if it is making cryptocurrency, we might have to come to a point where we are asking if this is the best possible use of our electricity reserves or our resources. We must bear in mind we are moving ultimately to fully renewable energy and there will be all these other demands on electricity.

I would appreciate it if Mr. Lynott had any further written notes on the projects he mentioned in the Silvermines and the pumped air project. I am especially interested in the environmental impact assessments because I imagine these technologies are being looked at around the world and we want to ensure we have the best environmental practice, taking in all the relevant EU directives, including those on biodiversity, sustainability and water. I imagine the latter directive is key here. It would be great to have the research on that.