A hosepipe ban will come into force in a number of counties on the east coast from tomorrow. I completely understand that because we are seeing record temperatures and are in the middle of dealing with the climate crisis and climate change. It is important that we conserve water, but can the Taoiseach understand the frustration of many people being told that they have to conserve water when it appears that there is very little governance or oversight of the amount of water used by data centres, particularly those in the Dublin area? Uisce Éireann cannot seem to provide proper figures for the amount of water that is being abstracted at the moment. It reckons that about 800 ML, 0.13% of the national average, is being abstracted. However, that is less than what Meta has recorded as abstracting for one of its own plants.

Thank you, Deputy.

Uisce Éireann seems to have plucked its figure from thin air.

The Taoiseach, please.

Will the Taoiseach ensure that there is oversight-----

Time is up, Deputy.

-----of the amount of water that data centres use?

We can, but I am not clear about the direction in which the Deputy is heading on that. Is she saying that we should shut them down or put them out of use-----

We need to know what they are using.

Deputy, it does not work like that.

------with all the implications that-----

We need to go into this with our eyes wide open.

Deputy, do you want the answer?

------would have for users of technology? The hosepipe ban is important but trying to juxtapose, having the big baddie over here and saying we should not have a hosepipe ban because------

We have no idea how much water data centres are using. It is incredible.

No, Deputy Whitmore. Please.

I just do not think that is a valid juxtaposition.