Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

In terms of information, the Deputy has asked a relevant question. The Minister has come out in recent days, and, as I understand it, has said that there is nothing to worry about and there will not be blackouts. However, we know that on those frosty, dark nights, the wind does not blow, so there are no wind turbines moving. We also know that there is no sun on those nights, so the solar panels will not work. Therefore, we are heavily dependent on the gas-generating stations and we know there are difficulties with that. We also know that there are plans to import some temporary generators. As the Committee of Public Accounts, we have a right to ask about continuity of supply, because if the lights go out, the whole thing is banjaxed.

We have the right to know about the potential costs of any temporary generators or other interim solutions that are brought in. To follow on from the issues raised by the previous speakers, this is the area on which to focus. I am concerned that we have closed down the peat-burning power stations in the midlands, because we are moving away from peat. I understand the logic in that. However, this morning, a shipload of peat arrived from Lithuania. My understanding is that it travelled almost 3,000 km. I would like somebody explain to me the logic of all of that. I do not get the logic of it from an economic point of view or from the point of view of reducing carbon emissions.

There is a real issue around electricity generation and the response from the Minister on the data centres. On the one hand, we are dishing out planning permission for data centres as a State while on the other hand, we are importing generators to use as stopgap measures to keep supply to the grid. As a result of this, we, as the Committee of Public Accounts, need to ask questions about the security of supply, the cost of the generators, and their projected costs going into the future.

I propose that we note and publish the correspondence we have on the outcome of the consultation process. That has been agreed. I also request that we seek further information from the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Deputy Eamon Ryan. Gas has become precarious. There are some, including the Minister, who raised concerns in the past about using gas as a transition fuel. I raised that concern with him at the climate action committee three years ago. Back then, he told me that importing electricity generated by nuclear power was preferable to using gas. However, this is where we are at that moment. The immediate concerns are: the security of supply; the implications all of this has on the public purse; and the implications of the costs of interim solutions, such as the use of generators a stop-gap solution. If the committee is agreeable, we will request that information.