Paul Murphy: Government 'full steam ahead' on AI, climate risks

This government is one of the most pro-AI probably in the world. We have a Taoiseach who has compared AI to the invention of the printing press, has swallowed the Kool-Aid of big tech. It seems with no assessment of what impact this is going to have in terms of our ability to achieve our climate targets, which I know the Minister has said we're not going to achieve anyway, even though they're supposedly legally binding. The question is whether you've carried out an assessment of the climate impacts of AI. Thank you. Minister. Mr Margaret, I thank the Deputy for his question. The government's updated new national digital and AI strategy was published last week and sets out the government's ambition and vision to 2030 to ensure Ireland remains a digital leader in an increasingly competitive global environment. It aims to secure Ireland as a global hub for applied AI innovation, strengthening our profile as a location to do investment. It will ensure our economy reaps the benefits of digital and AI for growth and competitiveness and enhance our public services and empower our people to thrive in a digital society. In accelerating our digital and AI ambitions, it is important to acknowledge the significant energy and infrastructure challenges Ireland face. To address these challenges and to maximise future opportunities associated with twin digital and green transitions, the government is pursuing a strategic medium-term approach for large energy users as set out in the large energy users action plan published last month. As the Deputy said or asked, there isn't a single stand-alone department report that quantifies the climate impact of AI. And as with all sectors of our economy, the operation and development of digital infrastructure, including AI, are underpinned by Ireland's legally binding climate objectives and the need to maintain robust energy security. The government continues to work to secure a decarbonised energy future that unlocks and enhances use of renewable energy sources, energy efficiency technology and energy efficient solutions to reduce our carbon footprint. A key pillar of the Large Energy Users Action Plan will be to provide a framework for the establishment of green energy parks in which to co-locate the most energy-intensive industry with the supply of renewables and other enabling technology and the establishment of a framework for the near-real-time greenhouse gas emissions reporting by large energy users. Thanks, Minister. Deputy? Thanks. Yeah, I mean, precisely the new digital and AI strategy. It is not about climate change. I think there's five references to climate in the entire document. It's not about protecting children. It's not about protecting artists. It's not about any of those things. It's precisely about committing to strengthening Ireland's position as a digital leader. It seems without regard to the negative impacts that AI is having in our society. And in particular, and the Minister's confirmed, you haven't even done an assessment. I mean, so the government's approach is full straight steam ahead with AI. We have to embrace this technology. Do what the big tech companies are telling us without even assessing what impact does this have on our climate. I mean, you look at the emissions of all the big tech companies, Google, Amazon, Meta, Microsoft. Their emissions are through the roof, far away not just from their targets, which are going down. And their emissions are dramatically going up largely because of the investment in AI and the massive energy usage that goes with that. They're also miles off. They're supposedly adjusted figures. The real figures are going high. Again, Deputy, I wouldn't agree with your assessment on where we are in regards to ensuring that we have our climate commitments, which are enshrined in law. They are very much part of the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act. And they do set binding carbon budgets and sectorial ceilings. So that means no sector is left off the hook. And that includes AI and digital infrastructure. And both of these can't expand without regards to emissions footprints. And I suppose our department has developed policy to respond to this in threefold. If you look at the planning and regulation, all large energy users must comply with the CRU's guidelines and environmental licensing regime. If you look at the integration with renewables and the new large energy action plan, that promotes green energy parks where AI data and research infrastructure directly connect to renewable supply. And that is very, very important because each of these data centres or AI data storage systems will require to meet at least 80% of their annual demands with new or additional renewable energy generation, which is driving down their emissions footprint. I mean, I find it remarkable that ministers are still answering questions about climate inaction by saying, oh, don't worry, we've got legally binding targets. If you're sitting beside the minister who has said, we're not going to meet these targets. So how can it still be an excuse when we're raising things about inaction by the government or action in the wrong direction, to say, oh, don't worry, we've got legally binding targets, when literally your senior minister has said, we're not going to meet those legally binding targets. You're making a joke of these targets. The truth is that the expansion of data centres has deepened our dependence on fossil fuels. We've outpaced the renewable deployment. We've strained the grid. They've hoarded power connections. They've built on-site gas generators. More and more are burning fossil fuels directly. They have stalled decarbonisation and have deepened dependence on fossil fuels. I want to make the point as well, because sometimes you see greenwashing statements by the likes of Google and others claiming, AI is going to be a net climate benefit. Don't be worried about all these fossil fuels we're burning as a result. There's a new Friends of the Earth report, which finds 74% of claims about AI's climate benefits are unproven, serving the profits of tech and fossil fuel industries, while downplaying the major climate harms of generative AI. Please to be. Minister. Again, Deputy, let me be clear, and Minister O'Brien also. The government has very clear objectives, and these are twin objectives around decarbonisation, but also around digitalisation. That's very much what we're focused on. We have the policy regimes to back this up. We are looking to harness Ireland as an AI innovation hub, and that presents huge opportunities in terms of economic growth. And along with that, we're providing significant investment into our energy systems. 3.5 billion euros in equity will go into air grid and ESB networks, and that will enable the modernisation of our grid, which is capable of balancing the new demand while safeguarding housing, enterprise SMEs, and essential services. So I think it's this combination of regulation around transparency, around renewable integration, that will ensure that AI-related growth does not undermine the overall energy transition that we're trying to achieve. Moving to questions.