Ba mhaith liom mo bhuíochas a ghabháil leis an Teachta Ahern as ucht an Bhille seo a thabhairt os comhair na Dála. I congratulate him on bring forward his first Bill. I am sorry that the Government is not supporting it, but Sinn Féin certainly will be doing so. The issue of the explosion in the number of these monstrous data centres for AI is once again before the House. Last week, I and na Teachtaí Pa Daly and Deputy Conway-Walsh tabled a Bill which would ensure that any new connections to the grid would be for pu…

The Herbata data centre is coupled with another potentially monstrous data centre on the Jigginstown site right next door. My constituents are particularly worried about this and the impact it is going to have. The centre at Jigginstown is going to be twice the size of the Herbata one, which would make it 16 times the size of Croke Park. The Herbata data centre on is going to use three times the amount of electricity currently used by homes in Kildare. We just cannot keep up. This is unsustainable. People in Naas f…

I welcome the opportunity to speak in favour of this motion. Ba mhaith liom mo bhuíochas a ghabháil le PBP as ucht an rúin seo. This is a critical motion because Irish households are paying roughly twice as much for electricity as data centres. Ordinary workers, families and pensioners are paying significantly more for their electricity than these large energy users. It is grossly unfair. It is the direct consequence of the Government's reckless failure to plan. At a time when ordinary people are being squeezed fro…

There is huge concern in north Kildare about two monstrous data centres that are planned for outside Naas, all to feed the insatiable need for AI. Data centres already consume a huge amount of discounted electricity, while homes and small businesses are paying increasingly high energy bills. Before we broke for the summer, and indeed at a meeting in Naas two weeks ago, people's main concerns were around our grid infrastructure, water, the humming noise from these data centres and the increasing costs to subsidise A…

-----in data centres all around Kildare. We need to reassess where we are going.

We must protect our grid and reassess the impact of AI. What is the Government going to do about this?

I know.

It is unusual.

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 n…

Irish neutrality is a strength, not a weakness. Ní laige í neodracht na hÉireann. It is not outdated. It is not something to be sneered at. For generations, Irish Governments acknowledged that we played a proud, neutral and independent role in the world, upholding international law without joining military alliances. The triple lock is not something Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael should dismantle without the stated consent, via referendum, of the Irish people, but they are afraid of the answer they might get. The Govern…

Cuirim fáilte roimh an díospóireacht seo inniu. Many myths exist about a united Ireland. I believe the biggest one is the alleged cost it will be to the Twenty-six Counties. Increasing amounts of research show that Irish unity would strengthen an all-island economy, creating more jobs, attracting investment and increasing tax revenue in addition to goodwill. Let us imagine every county on this island working towards the same economic future. At present, the economy of six counties of our country is controlled by th…

Molaim mo chomrádaí, an Teachta Aengus Ó Snodaigh, as an rún seo. An Teachta Ó Snodaigh has done Trojan work for the arts community for many years, and I am sure we have plenty more years to look forward to. Ireland is well-known around the globe for its music, arts and literature. For a country so small, we have produced countless names that are known and loved all across the world. That tradition continues to this day, as we continue to produce many incredible poets, singers, performers and writers. Each year, Ni…

I cannot express how disappointed I am in the Taoiseach and that this Government has decided to vote against our Bill. Regardless of whether you are a united-Irelander or not, our Bill simply seeks to ensure we are prepared for the constitutional change that is knocking on the door. Preparing for unity is sensible and responsible, voting against this Bill, rejecting the simple premise of preparation, is reckless and irresponsible. Sinn Féin has said repeatedly that Irish unity is bigger than us, and I have spoken t…

We saw the generosity of the people of Derry and beyond when Arlene Foster was warmly welcomed to the funeral to the late First Minister, Martin McGuinness. We saw it in Dublin when a courageous woman, who attended the Stardust inquest, stood between the injured assailant and an angry crowd because despite being failed by the institutions of this State, she still believed in justice and Ireland's innate sense of justice. These are the forward-looking and hopeful people of Ireland that I know and love. Our island ha…

Amendments Nos. 2, 5 and 9 are in my name and Deputy Pa Daly's. This Bill is a bit of a Trojan horse - I think most of us in the Opposition see it as that - around getting commercial LNG and more fossil fuel into the system. Amendment No. 2 inserts a provision to make sure this is for emergency use only. Amendment No. 5 attempts to provide a definition for "temporary" in the Bill. The Minister dropped "emergency" from the Title of the Bill and that really shows that the cloak is falling from the eyes here. People u…

An Teachta Healy-Rae should correct the record. It was not a bit of rain that caused the Famine. The failure of one crop did not cause the Famine that decimated-----

----- our population.

Shame on you. You are a disgrace.

Deputy Healy-Rae can support our next amendment, because it is relevant.

It is early.