Artificial Intelligence
Dail Éireann — 2026-02-24
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Alan Dillon (FG), Mayo

I do not agree with the Deputy's assessment on where we are in regard to ensuring that we meet our climate commitments, which are enshrined in law. They are very much part of the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act. They set binding carbon budgets and sectoral ceilings. That means no sector is left off the hook, and that includes AI and digital infrastructure. Neither of these can expand without regard to emissions footprints. The Department has developed a threefold policy response to this. The planning regulation specifies that all large energy users must comply with the CRU's guidelines and environmental licensing regime. When we look at the integration with renewables, the new large energy action plan promotes green energy parks where AI, data and research infrastructure directly connect to renewable supply. That is very important because each of these data centres or AI data storage systems will be required to meet at least 80% of their annual demand with new or additional renewable energy generation. That is driving down their emissions footprint.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-02-24/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:40+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-02-24