The Irish utilities regulator, the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU), has proposed allowing data centres to pay discounted network tariffs in exchange for accepting intermittent gas supply interruptions during periods of high demand. Sinn Féin MEP Lynn Boylan criticized the deal as 'deeply unfair,' arguing that it benefits data centres at the expense of households and small businesses, which already pay higher electricity rates. She called for halting data centre expansion and questioned the sustainability of current energy practices amid rising living costs and climate concerns. Other Irish political parties, including Labour, the Social Democrats, the Green Party, and People Before Profit, have also expressed similar concerns, highlighting the disproportionate impact of data centres on energy resources.
Bias read (Progressive): The article frames the issue through the lens of fairness and sustainability, emphasizing the negative impact on households and small businesses while criticizing the perceived advantages granted to data centres. The language used by Sinn Féin MEP Lynn Boylan and other leftist parties highlights a左翼





