Government should step in in Aer Lingus industrial crisis
People Before Profit- Solidarity TD Bríd Smith has said that with the looming threat of blackouts threatening the country the government must stop the proliferation of data centres in this country.
The Dublin South Central TD said that the government must support the People Before Profit Planning and Development (Climate Emergency Measures) (Amendment) Bill 2021 which would curb the proliferation of data centres in this country. The bill is due to be debate in the Dáil on 30 September.
She said: “Despite what the Minister says, there is a very real threat of blackouts occurring this year. We have received two amber warnings from Single Electricity Market Operator about this. The truth of the matter is that the government cannot guarantee that there will not be blackouts this winter and yet they are insistent on building masses of new data centres all across the country.
“Our national grid is under tremendous pressure as it stands, and the added strain on the system from huge numbers of data centres presents real problems for society and for ordinary people across the country. The existing 70 data centres consume 11% of entire electricity output and 30 are planned with another 8 under construction. They use an average of half million litres of water per day and given the water crisis this is unsustainable.
“What the Minister and the government need to do is support the People Before Profit Planning and Development (Climate Emergency Measures) (Amendment) Bill 2021 which would curb the proliferation of data centres in this country.”
Speaking on the industrial relations crisis at Aer Lingus, Mick Barry TD said: “I welcome reports that frontline workers will receive a “Covid bonus” in the Budget but recognition payments must extend to frontline workers in the private sector as well as those who work for the State. Nor should frontline workers be subjected to austerity policies by companies who rely on the State to pay a large share of their wage bill.
“The Government should use this leverage to prevent Aer Lingus from trying to cut pay, freeze wages for four years, implement compulsory layoffs, reduce starting rates and cut sick pay and roster duties.”