Timmy Dooley (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

In addition to that, in light of the Planning and Development Bill going through in the other House today, I would like to ask for a debate as soon as possible on the whole issue of data centres. It was brought to mind because a judicial review was taken to the courts by a group of people who latched onto a very minor technical issue relating to the development of a data centre at Ennis, County Clare. The court has found in a particular way and the matter has to go back to Bord Pleanála. We understand it is the entitlement of those who raised the issue of course, but we have to further look and ensure that our planning process does not become overly litigious on what could be conceived as minor technical issues. Data centres are a really important part of the infrastructure of our future economy. They are what was considered the advanced factory of the 1970s, the industrial units of the 1980s. They are critical pieces of infrastructure. Notwithstanding their demand and usage of water and electricity, they are an important part of our future economic development, particularly in areas outside of the capital city. Data centres can form an important part of balanced regional development. The one in Ennis is critical and I hope that it gets through sooner rather than later. We have big plans to capture electricity offshore through floating offshore wind projects. Data centres will be an important user of that electricity so that the development of these data centres does not become a burden on the grid as is currently stated. There is an important debate around this. There are people who object to data centres because they do not see them as an important part of our economic future. We have to address that.

Finally, I suggest because some rumours are circulating that Members of the Upper House have been involved with Russia and that there may or may not be a spy in our midst-----