Ms Aoife MacEvilly:

As for gas and the greater use of it, we think this will be positive. It will enable us to close down the coal-fired and the oil-fired plants when we get new gas generators on. We think renewable gas and green sources of gas can, over time, really assist Ireland in its decarbonisation goals. That is why we are happy to support that investment.

It is simply the case that as we are becoming so reliant on gas, and then reliant on a single source of gas via the UK, it is only prudent to consider LNG as a potential option. We note the Government policy and the concerns that have been expressed. There is not always that direct link between LNG and fracked gas. One can get non-fracked gas from LNG. A lot of EU shipments come from Qatar, where there is conventional production. Equally, one can get fracked gas via pipelines. Therefore, we do not think it is so much the infrastructure, that is, the LNG facility, that is of concern. We think there may be other ways. There is a new EU proposal on methane leakage reduction which might help prevent the import of higher methane emission gas sources, wherever they come from, which we think might be another opportunity. If we think of the likes of additional gas infrastructure, whether LNG or otherwise, as an opportunity for future green hydrogen infrastructure, I think there are potentials and possibilities there that we should not close off. That is why we are asking the Government to look at that.

Does Dr. McGowan wish to comment on water and data centres?