Lynn Boylan (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Before I say any more I want to quote the Republican Governor of Utah who said about the transgender community last week that, "Rarely has so much fear and anger been directed at so few." It is important to put on the record that trans rights are human rights.

Today I want to speak about the decarbonisation of our energy infrastructure and the importance of energy security. We know that our power system is undergoing an unprecedented transformation in order to decarbonise. However, the war in Ukraine has brought into sharp focus why it is so important not just to decarbonise our energy system from a climate perspective but also the importance of having indigenous energy security. One way in which we can help that transition is through demand reduction.

The lunacy of inviting data centres into this country with no strategy whatsoever for how our grid was going to deal with the number of data centres is coming home to roost for some Government parties which were their biggest cheerleaders. This week, I welcome the call from MaREI for a moratorium on data centres. It also outlined other ways in which we could reduce demand on the grid and it is not the only one calling for a greater focus on demand reduction.

Last week, the Committee on Environment and Climate Action heard from the Demand Response Association of Ireland. It outlined how demand response unlocks flexibility in how and where we use electricity and turns consumption into a tool in operating the power system. It is through demand response that we can balance the grid without the need for additional infrastructure. That is why it was upsetting to hear from it that it appears that demand reduction in the poor cousin of climate action. While the Taoiseach said on radio today there is a big focus on demand reduction, at the committee we heard there have been no meetings between the Government and demand reduction organisations. The demand reduction strategy will expire very soon and there does not seem to be any impetus to introduce a new one. I ask the Leader to facilitate a debate on the importance of demand reduction, given the current crunch around energy security.