7. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the first progress report of the climate action plan. [8099/26]
Sentiment score: 0.14
For years, we have been told that the Government's climate targets are legally binding, and the implication was that, therefore, heaven and earth would be moved in order to meet those targets. Then, in January, we heard from the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, that the Government is not going to meet the targets, and it did not announce any measures or have any plan to announce any measures to actually close the gap and meet those targets. The contrast between what the Taoiseach said when he went to COP 30 in Brazil and then the reality of what the Government is doing on the ground could not be more stark. Temperatures are rising, and the clock is ticking. If we are not prepared to tell our citizens the truth about this, we are failing them and this planet in the most profound way. Does the Taoiseach accept that his Government is failing the people of this country in the most profound way by bowing down to big tech corporations and the fossil fuel industry and putting their interests before the needs of our people? It is encapsulated by the strategic gas emergency reserve Bill, which is going to entrench reliance on the dirtiest fossil fuel on the earth - dirtier than coal. The Government is watering down commitments of the climate Act in the Bill to say that they should obey this Act to the extent that they consider practicable. The Taoiseach must reverse course on this.
Sentiment score: -0.05
I think the answer is interconnection.
Sentiment score: 0.00
You just did.
Sentiment score: 0.00
21. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Taoiseach for his response to the NESC report, Building a Virtuous Demographic Cycle. [10455/26]
Sentiment score: 0.18
The energy transition is not happening, is it? A total of 80% of our energy comes from fossil fuels. It is not because ordinary people are not making efforts to make changes in their lives, put on solar panels and retrofit their houses and so on. The central reason is that data centre usage of electricity has ballooned by more than 400% in the past ten years and it is on a trajectory to rise even faster. Even though renewable capacity is being added to the grid, all of that is being swallowed up by big tech. That is not just a problem for our climate. It is causing ordinary people's bills to go higher and higher. It is adding to the cost-of-living crisis. This year, people's electricity bills will 10% higher than they were last year. Almost 300,000 people are in arrears on their electricity bills. All of that is to satisfy the big tech corporations. It is time to stop and it is time listen to the likes of the Friends of the Earth and provide an energy guarantee scheme and it is time for people to be on the streets on 28 February with the Affordable Ireland Campaign.
Sentiment score: 0.12
Income tax, but all the other stuff.
Sentiment score: 0.00
No.
Sentiment score: -0.30
The Taoiseach knows I am not.
Sentiment score: 0.00
The Taoiseach knows I am not.
Sentiment score: 0.00
"Disingenuous".
Sentiment score: 0.00
How many in data centres?
Sentiment score: 0.00
I was talking to the Taoiseach about data.
Sentiment score: 0.00
That is the whole point of data. Data centres can be anywhere.
Sentiment score: 0.00
Exactly.
Sentiment score: 0.00
It is 20%.
Sentiment score: 0.00