5. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will report on the impact of the expansion of data centres on the State’s climate change targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17991/25]
TDs / Ruth Coppinger
Ruth Coppinger
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938
questions asked
Oral and written, to government departments
164,714
words spoken in the chamber
Across 1,017 contributions
371
votes recorded
Each Yes, No or Abstained in a recorded vote
239
topics asked about
Across 19 departments
From the Dáil chamber only: committee meetings are not in this archive.
What they ask about
The subject headings the Oireachtas filed their questions under.
Who they ask
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Month by month
Low months are usually recesses, when the Dáil does not sit. The archive runs to 22 October 2026.
Questions asked 938 in all
Dec 2024Oct 2026
Contributions to debates 1,017 in all
Dec 2024Oct 2026
Show as a table
| Month | Questions | Contributions |
|---|---|---|
| December 2024 | 0 | 5 |
| January 2025 | 4 | 2 |
| February 2025 | 40 | 62 |
| March 2025 | 32 | 55 |
| April 2025 | 59 | 51 |
| May 2025 | 42 | 68 |
| June 2025 | 33 | 69 |
| July 2025 | 48 | 63 |
| August 2025 | 0 | 0 |
| September 2025 | 81 | 26 |
| October 2025 | 26 | 79 |
| November 2025 | 81 | 42 |
| December 2025 | 16 | 58 |
| January 2026 | 64 | 66 |
| February 2026 | 64 | 99 |
| March 2026 | 66 | 46 |
| April 2026 | 79 | 48 |
| May 2026 | 53 | 50 |
| June 2026 | 51 | 60 |
| July 2026 | 26 | 32 |
| August 2026 | 0 | 1 |
| September 2026 | 53 | 20 |
| October 2026 | 20 | 15 |
Debates they spoke in most
Plus 687 contributions in the regular slots, such as Leaders' Questions and Priority Questions. Speech from the chair is not counted.
Asked about similar topics
Worked out by computer from the subject headings of each TD's questions, giving more weight to headings few TDs use. It shows shared subjects, not shared views.
Party, constituency and offices
- constituency Dublin West 29 November 2024 to now
- party People Before Profit-Solidarity 29 November 2024 to now
I want the Minister to report on the impact of data centres on us reaching our climate change targets. As he knows, 21% of all metered electricity use is now coming from data centres, whereas all residential dwellings create 28%. It has increased five times in eight years. It is the dominant driver of increased electricity demand in Ireland according to the SEAI. How can we reach our targets with this amount of data …
That is all very interesting, but if we have such a love-in with data centres we are not going to reach our emissions targets. We are already set to have a 57% shortfall for emission reduction for transport, buildings, waste and agriculture and a shortfall of 12% for renewable energy production. We face €26 billion in fines. How are we to pay that? How is the State to deal with that because of the policy of attractin…
The Taoiseach made that comment when speaking at a data centre-linked company called Hanley Energy. There are two issues. Most of AI is utterly useless in terms of the impact for humanity, in comparison with actually dealing with climate change issues. There is no question most AI is not necessary. There is no effort by any of the companies to get people to reduce their online storage, which could be done easily. Mos…
In comparison with reaching climate change targets.
We should mark that this time ten years ago, we were in the thick of the battle against water charges. Let us put it on record - it was the most successful anti-austerity campaign at the time when all the austerity was heaped on working, working-class and poor people. This week and this month the Minister swore blind that the Government has no intention of reintroducing water charges. The Taoiseach said the same thin…
What we are seeing in the world economy right now is a historic turn-away from free trade and globalisation to protectionism, but it is a trend that has been under the surface for some time. The context for this is that post 2008 when the financial system collapsed and capitalist growth slowed, there has been an economic malaise in general and increased competition between the US and China. The multinational companie…
Kate spoke on RTÉ radio about her trauma of being raped by three men and then the trial that followed and the intimidatory atmosphere at it. Sophie was interviewed on "Prime Time" about her abuse as well. Kate said that we have an epidemic of gender-based violence and that people are being retraumatised in the legal system as well. The manosphere is operating unchecked and unregulated and is spewing violent misogyny …
What about the ten-point plan and the meeting?
I asked about my meeting.
13. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Taoiseach to report on the work of the child poverty and well-being programme in his Department. [13975/25]
I, too, want to formally send our very best wishes to Deputy Boyd Barrett.
I want to ask what kind of monitoring there is on the well-being of children, particularly disabled and vulnerable children, in our children’s hospitals. Will there be any accountability by successive Ministers for the fact that the HIQA report published today outlines how there was no written approval for springs that were used in children’s…
What is the problem with that?
26. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee dealing with transport will meet next. [13703/25]
It is important to mark a situation where the right to travel of all citizens no longer exists. Trans and non-binary people were issued with a warning in the past ten days from the authorities in Ireland that if travelling to the US, the traveller's biological sex at birth should not differ from the sex on their passport. They were told by the authorities here to contact the US Embassy if they are such a person. We c…
Could I make a point of order?
Could I clarify whether any Deputy can just jump in on anyone's question? Does that mean people like me who have listed a question and waited all night to ask it might not be heard tonight? Is that the case?
I listed five questions and I got only one of them in. I ask that people would please stop jumping in on them.
I would like to jump in. I would like to register that people from big parties who have loads of opportunities to ask questions have been jumping in all night on these questions, meaning that people from the smaller groups get pushed down even further. It is a little inconsiderate of those parties, including Sinn Féin, Fine Gael and all of them, when there are so many questions on the agenda.
My question will not be taken now because of that.
In this debate on youth crime, there has not been much emphasis on the huge danger of violent misogyny and the targeting of young boys to essentially hate women and blame them for the situation they face. "Adolescence", a series on Netflix, has opened up a big discussion in society around this. The plot is very reminiscent of the horrific killing of Ana Kriégel in this country. We have to say that sexual crime among …
I commend Deputy Healy on bringing this motion seeking to make housing an emergency. I am gobsmacked. Here we are again looking at a sole face over on the backbenches. Not only is housing not an emergency for the Government, it is not even a priority. The Minister did not even use his full time. He had three minutes left. None of the backbenchers who have been talking about wanting to speak even bothered their barnie…
Are they private homes?
The principals will call the Government out now.
They need a school now.