Malcolm Byrne (Wicklow-Wexford, Fianna Fail)

I thank Deputy Ó Muirí for raising this matter. I express concern about the remarks reported in the Irish Independent today by the Secretary General of the Department of energy. It is not about a choice between housing and AI. We need to build housing but we also need to prepare for our tech future. This is also, by the way, the same Department that is responsible for the development of renewable energy, particularly offshore, and has continued to fail to meet the targets in this regard. I am really concerned about how this debate is now being presented.

The future is both green and tech. They are not mutually exclusive. The Government needs to reassure the public. The story in today's Irish Independent is deeply concerning if it reflects the views of a senior civil servant. The Secretary General needs to be held to account for the failures of her Department to meet the issues around renewable energy. I agree with Deputy Heneghan that there are new, modern data centres, including Echelon in Arklow, which can generate their own energy.

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