Ireland has failed to grow its energy supply network — IDA

CEO defends growing number of data centres saying Ireland needs to grow energy supply though offshore wind

Michael Lohan, CEO of IDA Ireland at a capacity crowd at the Cork Chamber Business Breakfast, in association with Ronan Daly Jermyn and media partner Irish Examiner at The Kingsley Hotel, Cork. "We have failed to grow our infrastructure in terms of energy supply. That is our core issue. It is not about demand, it is an energy supply issue. We need to scale that and offshore wind gives us that potential." Picture: Larry Cummins

Ireland has failed to grow its energy supply network to meet the demand of data centres which are a key element of the country's digital economy, the IDA Chief Executive Michael Lohan has said.

Speaking to business leaders at the Cork Chamber Business Breakfast, Mr Lohan said Ireland's focus should be on growing its energy supply infrastructure through offshore wind farm developments. His comments come as planning permission was granted this week to Amazon for three new data centres in Dublin.