Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The exponential rise in the use of data has led to an exponential rise in the number of data centres. Some people think data is stored in clouds but it is not. It is always stored in centres. The solution proposed by some is to transfer the data to another country that may use even more energy to store it. The Government's response to this is "Problem; what problem?". There is a problem. All of these data giants are headquartered in Ireland. Does that not give Ireland a unique opportunity, if not a responsibility, to consider how the growing need for data can be addressed and met? Will the Government meet with environmental groups and the data giants - these huge companies - in order to identify how this issue might be addressed? Moving the problem to another country is not going to solve it as long as all of us use more data every day.

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