Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I am sure many Deputies, particularly those representing the constituencies of the west, are deeply concerned about the apparent failure of Apple to proceed with a data centre in Athenry, as was originally planned two or three years ago. It was held up in the planning system. I add a particular concern to the debate and put a case to the Minister. There were difficulties in the planning system, which was unfortunate, but people have their rights and we would not interfere with them. The Government has also been caught out with a complete lack of vision or support for the shift to a renewable future, and Apple can see that. It is not by coincidence it has gone to Denmark, a country committing to 50% wind power by 2020 and 84% wind power by 2035. This can be compared with Ireland, which will not meet its target of 40% of electricity coming from renewables by 2020: we will not meet any of our targets and we will probably be the worst performer in terms of emissions reductions in Europe. Effectively, we cannot build anything in this country now as we have lost the public, and part of the reason is a lack of political leadership, as the Citizens' Assembly indicated last weekend.

The matter is ongoing. I read a recent submission from the Irish Government on work for new directives in the European Council relating to renewable power. It is hard to believe but our Government submitted an amendment to the effect that we should not be thinking long-term or be ambitious in setting 2050 targets and decarbonising power systems. I am sorry but when we keep doing that and shooting ourselves in the foot, we portray ourselves as old, out of date, backward and not green. It indicates we do not want to be part of a new digital modern economy and it eventually comes home to roost in the likes of the decision we are discussing. Apple understands and sees it. It knows it can build in Denmark, which wants a renewable future. Why would the company work with a Government which does not want such a future or do anything about it except paying lip service? That is one of the stories behind this Apple decision. The Government has been exposed on a problem of a lack of commitment to this transition we must make.

This is a real problem for the west of Ireland when it means this flagship project will not go ahead. My God, it says something. It comes on the back of us already saying we will not build out the grid to the west of Ireland as it is a politically difficult decision. I know it is tough but that has consequences. Sometimes we must stand up to the public and be honest. We know nobody wants to build out the grid and it is not easy but if we pull back, as we have done, there will be consequences for Galway, Mayo, Roscommon, Sligo and Donegal. Dublin is packed with data centres and we have no problem getting them because we have a grid and other infrastructure. If we do not provide the underlying infrastructure, the west will not develop and that is what happened because Fine Gael was asleep on watch. It stood back from the responsibility to provide infrastructure that would have allowed fibre cables and grid connections that allow modern industries to form.

What a loss that is and how will we turn it around? We can start with this Government looking to stand up for a green transition and being ambitious in terms of decarbonisation. That is not happening in any Department or with any Minister. Apple read that and understood it, just as the Citizens' Assembly did this weekend. They know there is no political leadership around decarbonisation. Why would Apple do its business here? It is now off to Denmark. That is the story of what happened in my mind.

See this speech in context