Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the publication last week of the future framework for offshore energy. This was described by the Taoiseach's predecessor as Ireland's Moonshot but it illustrates how much of an onus is on the State to be aligned if it is to deliver this planned approach. There is a seven-stage D map, a marine area consent grid connection, planning approval, state aid-approved auctions, ports and accompanying storage. Does the cross-Government task force have a line of sight on the capacity of the State to deliver on this because it is a big ask in terms of capacity and I do not know whether we have that capacity. One of the significant opportunities of plentiful green energy involves the ICT sector. We have an effective moratorium even on highly strategic data centres, which is another concern for me because it involves the long-term productive use of offshore energy.

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