Ossian Smyth (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I appreciate Senator Boylan's raising of this issue and acknowledge that her amendment is an attempt to do something constructive. Neither I nor the Government wants data centres connecting directly to the gas grid. Clearly, the gas grid is almost pure fossil fuel at the moment, with only very small amounts of biomethane on it and we do not want data centres connecting directly to it. However, this Bill is not the correct mechanism for making sure that does not happen and this amendment would not have the right effect. We have a directive to be implemented which should achieve the same thing and we are also looking at specific planning policy requirements that would also have the same effect. That is our position at the moment. I am trying to achieve the same thing as Senator Boylan. I do not want data centres connecting directly to the gas grid but the amendment the Senator has tabled would not have that effect. It would not be effective.