Matt Shanahan (Waterford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I will return to the issue of ISME and the Labour Employer Economic Forum. The Tánaiste highlighted that IBEC, the Small Firms Association and Chambers Ireland are represented but I will highlight to him the work that ISME has done with regard to insurance reform and examinership-light, two key pivotal strategies for the reopening of business and the future of small businesses and microbusinesses. I ask the Tánaiste to seriously consider allowing ISME to be represented on the LEEF. It is very important that its voice is heard and I am not sure the voices of those it represents are being properly heard in the forum.

With regard to the marine legislation the Tánaiste mentioned, I will ask about the development of offshore wind. What kind of community quotient will be included in the legislation? I refer particularly to any economic benefits that would accrue to our coastal regions and communities. As part of this paradigm, I will ask about the issue of data centres. Has the Government given any consideration to the percentage of the new wind generation capacity to be developed offshore that will have to be given over for data centres? That also raises questions around the viability of the grid and the additional infrastructure we will have to develop to accommodate data centres. I struggle to understand the relationship that requires us to build so many data centres and the economic benefits they present overall.

Again with regard to the marine legislation, I am interested in the issue of carbon sequestration. I understand that there is potential to sequester carbon using tapped oil basins, perhaps those off the coast of Kinsale in particular. The Department has probably had some meetings with representatives in this area. Is this technology being looked at seriously with regard to climate action?

I recently led a delegation of members of the Regional Group to meet the Tánaiste with regard to buying genuinely Irish products. He spoke about beginning a new campaign with regard to buying locally in July. Will he confirm that is to go ahead and that resources are being put behind it?