Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It presents a real opportunity to unlock, produce and consume electricity more efficiently. I have no doubt there is significant opportunity in Ireland, with a lot of tech companies using AI and with their data centres, for us to enhance our competitiveness. We can also reduce our emissions. It is the technology of the future. We have set out the principles within Government that new data centre grid connections will be considered by system operators on a case-by-case basis. The Commission for Regulation of Utilities, CRU, is in place to conduct a review of connections of large energy users. We are using every lever at our disposal to ensure we do this in a sustainable manner that does not impact on our climate ambition but ensures tech companies, which as I said create thousands of jobs, are supported and secured.

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