In view of the debacle surrounding the application by Apple for planning permission for a data centre in Athenry, I remind the Tánaiste of the undertaking given by the Government to introduce an amendment to the Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Act 2006. Yesterday delegates from IDA Ireland told the Joint Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation that they had received large numbers of expressions of interest in investment in the development of data centres. When can we expect the amending legislation to be brought before the House?

Report Stage of the Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016 has been ordered to take place in the Dáil this week. The Minister of State, Deputy Damien English, proposes to introduce an amendment in the Seanad that will include provision for data centres as part of the strategic infrastructure element of the Bill. We are working with the Whip's office to see if we can get the legislation through both Houses before the recess.