Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

As Taoiseach, I am saying to the Deputy that the Government will ensure every effort will be made and that everything that needs to be done will be done. In respect of any short-term problems between now and when the two plants are back in operation in October, any issues that arise will be dealt with through demand management. That means working with large energy users that have back-up generators. That is how it will be dealt with. It will be dealt with calmly and pragmatically that way.

A key point I am making is that gas-fired generation capacity is an essential part of the energy transition. The last two options did not succeed in bringing players in. The next option will have to. A clear roadmap has to be laid out in respect of anybody interested in that.

On the issue of demand, data centres comprise just one aspect. There are two big changes in the world. One concerns data. There will be an ongoing need for data centres all around the globe but we must have conditions attached and obligations concerning prioritisation and so on.

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