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Seanad Éireann · 2023-10-25

Gnó an tSeanaid - Business of Seanad

CC Mark Daly · Administrative Panel

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Summary of this debate

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From the time that the Commission for Regulation of Utilities, CRU, precluded many new data centre projects from signing up to the electricity network, Gas Networks Ireland, GNI, started seeing increased requests for data centre connections to the gas network on the basis that data centres would operate their own gas-fired generation on site. In a brazen show of disregard to its line Minister, GNI issued a gas forecast statement which states: "Gas Networks Ireland believe that Data Centres connecting to the gas network could meet... [the principles set out in the Government’s data centre policy statement] ...through the increased use of biomethane and hydrogen” and that it would continue as normal.

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Most used terms in this debate

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firefighters 22
gas 32
data 38
retained 20
centres 28
school 31
scheme 37
gni 11
islanded 8
statement 28
senator 29
minister 55

The full debate

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CC Mark Daly this contribution

Dia dhaoibh, a cháirde.  I have received notice from the following Senators that they propose to raise the following matters:

Senator Lynn Boylan - The need for the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to make a statement on the recommendation of the Climate Change Advisory Council that the Gas Act be amended, if necessary, in line with the national policy on islanded data centres.

Senator Micheál Carrigy - The need for the Minister for Education to make a statement on the timelines for the delivery of the approved extension to Ardscoil Phádraig, Granard, County Longford.

Senator Victor Boyhan - The need for the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide a timeline for the delivery of payments and other prescribed benefits to those who will qualify under the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme Act 2023.

Senator Malcolm Byrne - The need for the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update on proposals to improve conditions for retained firefighters and on investment in the fire service.

Senator Marie Sherlock - The need for the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to make a statement on whether local authorities will be reimbursed for the rates refunds to be provided to businesses as part of the as part of the increased cost of business grant.

Senator Paul Gavan - The need for the Minister for Health to make a statement on the number of patients on trolleys at University Hospital Limerick.

Senator Tim Lombard - The need for the Minister for Education to provide an update on the progress and timelines associated with the proposed new build for Summercove National School, Kinsale, County Cork.

The matters raised by the Senators are suitable for discussion and I have selected Senators Lynn Boylan, Micheál Carrigy, Victor Boyhan and Malcolm Byrne and they will be taken now. The other Senators may give notice on another day of the matters that they wish to raise.

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