Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Data centres are at the heart of the ICT sector. That is the reality. Without them, we cannot develop a sector in which we have created a considerable competitive advantage. We have short-term problems of capacity constraints in meeting their demand. As the Minister said, though, we have a substantial opportunity in the long term to develop the offshore sector. We need domestic users of that capacity. We have a challenge, which the Minister is seeking to articulate, in maintaining the progress of a sector that is crucial to our economic model and the digital progress we are making.

Data centres are part of the emissions trading system. The reason for this is that data centres within Europe ought to locate in the areas where they would be best located. Ireland has considerable advantages. The ETS is not part of our effort sharing.

The ETS is designed to encourage the location of large users in the places they are most competitive. Deputy Murphy, with all due respect, is seeking to make a misplaced case. We need to develop sectors in an orderly way to maximise our opportunity. I do not like the sort of badgering the Minister is getting because he is trying to manage a short-term difficulty for a long-term gain.

I know it has been a very difficult couple of weeks for the Minister and I thank him for being here. My question relates to progress. According to last year's plan, with 45% of the carbon budget for the industrial sector used up, we are not on a trajectory to meet the carbon budget. I am trying to identify what areas could get us back on track or where we have the most opportunity. It is disappointing that there is a low green take-up in much of the business sector. One thing that is a hobby horse of mine is that I would like to see the Minister, through his Department, develop circular strategies in the key economic sectors, namely, food, construction, white goods, consumer durables and so on. There are huge opportunities for us to-----