Lynn Boylan (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Nobody doubts that the unprecedented crisis in the European market is because of the war in Ukraine but the crisis in the Irish energy sector precedes the war. It is disappointing that the Minister of State did not acknowledge the fact that EirGrid's generating capacity statement, which came well before the war, stated that all new demand between now and 2030 would be from data centres. We are living out the consequences of Fine Gael's failed policy. I welcome that residential premises are proposed to be included but I do not hear the same urgency on this as there is with the gas-fired power generation we are rushing through. This is a way of doing the same job and making sure the lights stay on but without having to build very expensive infrastructure, which is carbon intensive and continues to produce carbon emissions. We need more urgency on this. The end of the year is too late, especially if a public consultation is required on the back of that.