Ms Aoife MacEvilly:

Throughout our contributions, we have outlined a number of areas in which the CRU as the energy and utilities regulator is taking action. Many, if not most, of them are actions we require energy companies to undertake. We discussed the price controls under which we require ESB Networks and EirGrid to deliver the infrastructure, services and innovation that are needed to support security of supply and decarbonisation. We also spoke about the measures we take on the wholesale and retail markets in terms of market design and rules through which we either compel or incentivise the competitive market players, generators and suppliers to deliver more for customers and the public and to deliver innovative approaches to solving our decarbonisation, new generation capacity such as renewables or fossil fuels and security of supply. We spoke about the rules we place on suppliers and the work we do to ensure they meet their obligations.

We also have a role in protecting and empowering customers. It is both sides of that equation - not one or the other. It is a cornerstone of national and EU policy to put the customer and citizen at the heart of the transition to give him or her those options to enable him or her to play a role and potentially benefit from the transition. We think it necessary for us to give customers those options - not compel them but provide the options that might be most suitable for them and their circumstances regardless of whether they are in a position to afford or invest in their homes or simply want to make simple choices that will make things cheaper but also support decarbonisation. We think it is in the public interest to do that.

This does not in any way set aside the importance of the work we also do in protecting vulnerable customers - customers who for reasons of age, health or other circumstances should not be disconnected. This is an area we take very seriously. We have outlined the work we do in setting the rules to support vulnerable customers and the work we undertook up to late last year to audit suppliers to ensure they are protecting vulnerable customers in line with the rules in line with the rules and identifying good practice we might build into new rules.

All of those activities are equally important. None of them takes priority. It is not about focusing solely on customer incentives and innovation at the expense of protection. Both are necessary. I might ask Mr. Gannon to answer the question about data centres.