Dáil debates

Wednesday, 29 June 2022

EirGrid, Electricity and Turf (Amendment) Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages

 

4:27 pm

Photo of Bríd SmithBríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

Does the Minister deny that this State is an outlier in respect of the percentage of generated power used by data centres compared to other states? The average across the globe is 2% to 4% of the national grid. We are looking at a situation in which 30% of the national grid could be used to feed data centres.

To echo what Deputy Whitmore said, a recent report by the Irish Academy of Engineering stated that estimated data expansion will require almost €9 billion in new energy infrastructure and add at least 1.5% million tonnes to Ireland's CO2 emissions by 2030. The question is who will pay for all of this. First, it will be the environment and, most importantly, the people who are already struggling with cost-of-living difficulties. None of this makes sense. We have not had a chance to examine or drill down on the Bill. The best we can do is make amendments to the legislation that will absolutely guarantee restrictions such as ceilings or date limits. Amendment No. 2 would ensure that the legislation contains a moratorium on any more data centres.

We have an added problem. I wrote to the Department asking how many data centres that already have agreements are due to be connected. The Minister has said that it is not his business; it is for the CRU. I wrote to the CRU and I still have to get an answer. I am not saying that we do not have faith in our public servants, but it is an inefficient way of dealing with democracy. We who have to be accountable for this have to protect the people and exploit the interests of the people we represent. The added cost to people, as well as the damage to the environment that this is doing, is just insane. It is unbelievable that it is being proceeded with.

Perhaps the Minister will address my question on whether Ireland is an outlier in terms of the percentage of power that goes to data centres compared to other countries. Why are we allowing that? Why are we not standing up for what is the right thing to do and insisting that a ceiling is put on it and no more?

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