Mr. Mark Foley:

There are three parts to the question. As regards data centre policy, there was a policy in November 2021 and another in July or August 2022. The 2021 policy was issued by the CRU, while the 2022 policy was prepared by the Government. Taken together, it is not a policy that allows us to sign a contract with a data centre. We have not signed a contract for two years. I ask the Deputy to please appreciate that we are in the middle of all this. We are not creating demand and we are not the architects of all this. All we are saying is there needs to be a policy that works and allows appropriate growth in demand. I stress the word "appropriate". I have used it two or three times. At the moment, we are in a logjam. Nothing is happening. We are trying to help and offer thought, leadership and ideas as to how this might be fixed. It is ultimately a matter for the Government, however, rather than for EirGrid. We just implement Government policy. It is also a matter for the CRU. Our point is that the CRU can only come up with a rational policy if it is properly informed by a strong Government policy. At the moment, we are stopped. We are not signing any contracts. That is the current circumstance. Is that clear?