Vol. 1090 No. 4
I move:
That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to amend the Electricity Regulation Act 1999 and, for that purpose, to make further and better provision for the prioritisation of applications under section 34 for connection to, or use of, the transmission or distribution system for electricity, and to provide for related matters.
I thank the Deputy, who is sharing time, five minutes in total.
Thank you, a Cheann Comhairle. Before I start, I welcome Saoirse, Nathan and Jax's family. Deputy Johnny Mythen has kept me up to date about the previous Bill and I look forward to supporting it on its passage through the Dáil. Before I turn to this Bill, I would like to thank Maeve Gleeson in the Office of Parliamentary Legal Advisers, OPLA, and Muireann Meehan Speed in my office for all their help in preparing it.
When grid capacity is limited, as it is at the moment, the delivery of homes, public infrastructure and essential services should be prioritised. This is the simple principle underpinning the grid prioritisation framework Bill. The Government's laissez-faire approach to data centres and other large energy users must end. It is clear the State needs a more strategic approach to allocating scarce grid capacity, as was recommended by the European Commission in December of last year. The urgency of this issue was re-enforced today by the Central Bank, which highlighted that constraints in essential infrastructure, including energy networks, act as a major barrier to housing delivery. At a time when families are locked out of home ownership and housing demand continues to grow, it is unacceptable that access to critical infrastructure-----
You are sharing time, Deputy.
I am sharing time. I will finish on this. This Bill recognises that electricity infrastructure is a strategic national asset and I commend this Bill to the House.
Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCeann Comhairle. Over the recess, my office was inundated with appeals from worried constituents about two monstrous data centres in Naas. Not only are these data centres creating nuisance with sound and stature, but they are eating away at critical infrastructure of water and energy. Yet, we are expecting the people of Naas to pay increased energy prices to subsidise these monstrosities. It is clear to people that the Government has placed the development of these data centres above the needs of their families.
Our legislation is simple. It provides the necessary guardrails to ensure that critical infrastructure is prioritised for families and workers. The legislation is consistent with the recommendations of the European Commission, and it provides much-needed security to homes around Ireland that their needs will not come last. We have done more than enough of our fair share for data centres to store the banking, health and other data that businesses need. What we now need in Naas are homes, not more data centres for AI.
I want to thank my colleague Deputy Pa Daly and Muireann Meehan Speed in his office for their work on this Bill. It is critically important. What is does is very simple. It prioritises the needs in local communities and areas. It seeks to strike a balance in regard to what is critical infrastructure for small and medium businesses that are really dependent on energy and also in terms of the housing that is needed to house employees in areas.
It is about getting that balance and addressing what is needed here because businesses cannot expand without electricity and cannot attract and retain workers if those workers have nowhere affordable to live. This does speak to the underinvestment in the grid and in electricity and how energy is really exposed in this situation. There has to be a rapid upgrading of the grid as well. However, we cannot continue to allow data centres to take priority over these homes and over workers, who sustain our economy and communities. The Bill seeks to put public interest first, ensuring that scarce grid capacity is prioritised for housing and essential infrastructure. It is a practical Bill that I hope the Government will support. It makes absolute sense. It is urgent given the pressure that is being put on the affordability and availability of energy to homes and small businesses.
Is the Bill being opposed?
It is not opposed.
I move: "That the Bill be taken in Private Members' time."
