Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I support the motion, which is welcome. Data centres are popping up all over the place. There are 17 of them in this country, which places a significant demand on energy supply. Most of them are in Dublin. The huge demand on energy concerns me. Does it mean we will face further amber alerts or are we drifting towards blackouts, as has been stated for some time now by the Minister, Deputy Ryan? Regarding climate action to date, the focus of the Green Party has been on rural Ireland, with families paying massive carbon tax, penalties on fuel, including at petrol stations, increases in electricity costs and home heating oil and so much more. Families are suffering and businesses in west Cork are telling me that they are running into serious problems and cannot afford to keep going.

We were promised in this House by politicians who were in favour of the carbon tax and climate action that it would not affect the national herd. We now know different. Several farmers from west Cork who have 75 cows on their farms see no other way out but to reduce their herd to 50 cows. That will result in an astonishing drop in income for them. It is also an astonishing attack on Irish agriculture. At the same time, there are data centres all over Dublin sucking up energy beyond belief but there is concern about that. If there is ground to be made up in this country, it appears it is to be made up in rural Ireland. I have put forward solutions to the Minister, Deputy Ryan, in regard to the energy crisis. There is potential to have a floating LNG terminal, which would bring so many benefits for this country, but he has rejected it. With the Green Party in government we have data centres all over Dublin creating energy instability in our country while in this House, the party, along with Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and a few nod and wink politicians, supports the destruction of rural Ireland, with the culling of cattle and fuel and energy bills rising out of control all affecting rural people and families.

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