Micheál Martin

-----on how we activate brownfield sites because they make sense. At present, we are being told, they are not viable. At present, the apartment building is not happening, in particular in cities, to the degree that is necessary to give people a chance of either owning an apartment or renting an apartment at an affordable rate. We want to give opportunities to young people-----

-----to either rent or to buy at affordable rates. That is our agenda.

First of all, the Deputy is referring to the publication of the Commission on the Regulation of Utilities large energy users connection policy minded-to decision paper. It is a mouthful, but it is an important document. It is not as the Deputy has described it, by the way. I think a lot of people on the industrial side might see a bit of progress in this but it will take a lot of detailed reading.…

Are we saying we do not want to participate in the AI revolution? The AI revolution is the most profound economic revolution currently occurring since the 19th century industrial revolution. It is, but it has a problem.

AI uses enormous amounts of energy. That is a problem. The US says it will be fossil fuels. The French say it will be nuclear power. Ireland will have wind energy but there will be a gap in between. When the wind starts to flow - offshore wind in particular - we hope there will 5 GW by 2030 and more in 2031 and 2032. We cannot shut the door on data centres in an absolutist way, which is what the D…

We need to solve the problems that the data centres throw up, and they do throw up challenges.

Sorry?

Not my half a minute.

I care about climate just as much as Deputy Murphy does.

I also care about workers. I am not so sure Deputy Murphy does, really.

The CRU has issued its paper. It bears reflection if people want to read it and tease it through. I have never believed that, when we have new technological innovations and fundamental change, you should turn your back on it, pretend it is not happening and go into some sort of cocoon where you are happy with yourself. That is not the real world. The only issue with LNG is energy security. It is n…

Is this on the Order of Business?

A proper debate.

I turn first to agrifood. There are 135 minutes allocated. We will extend it, if necessary, into next week. There is an issue with the availability of the Minister. It is a serious issue. That is accepted. In terms of the Housing Commission, it seems that the Deputies opposite are opposed to a lot of what is in the Housing Commission.

When I reference one area of it, I get attacked. I have no issue with a debate on the Housing Commission.

We have had a debate every week. I will make a general point as we are looking at Standing Orders and so on.

I want to make a general point as we are looking at Standing Orders and so on.

In terms of the Order of Business, the time of the Dáil is about Government time and Opposition time. There is nothing wrong with the Opposition, in Opposition time, discussing any of the issues raised.

The Housing Commission could have been raised in Private Members' time, or the children’s hospital or any other issue you believe should be raised.

I do not think any other parliament in Europe has as much time devoted to Opposition as this Parliament does. That is a fact. I agree we should get the Oireachtas committees established as quickly as we possibly can. I agree with the Deputy who raised that issue. I have no issue with that. However, Government time has to be ring-fenced as well to get legislation and decisions through. There will b…

-----as is normal and natural for any Dáil and that is our view. On the issue raised by Deputy Mac Lochlainn, I have been consistent throughout this Dáil and the last, in terms of accountability in this House. The Executive is accountable to the House. I do not believe Ministers are accountable for the behaviour or whatever issues pertain to any individual of the other House, in this House. I do …

I think if you go back you will find I did not get engaged. I did not engage. Does that make sense?

I did not engage, Deputy.

I have discussed housing extensively in the past 20 minutes, given absolute clarity and identified the need to bring in private sector investment. I have identified the need to look seriously at brownfield sites in particular.

Nothing is ruled out in respect of brownfield sites, as far as I am concerned, in particular in the cities. That said, we will also look at other initiatives to incentivise private sector investment, particularly in apartment building and, again, in cities and large towns. That is where there is a challenge. The €450 million is additional. It will build houses and units that are not built now. No…