Joe Lynam

Over the weekend, one of Ireland's youngest and arguably most successful businessmen, John Collison, opined passionately about Ireland's inability to get big things built and how quangos and nimbies have stymied growth.

We've also learned that EV sales are starting to take off in Ireland.

All these reasons mean that petrol forecourts are no longer places just for fuel.

One sector which knows a bit about objections is the data centre industry.

Mini supermarkets are often attached to them to boost revenues, and that's one of the reasons why turnover was up 4% at Maxall to €486 million last year.

My next guest is building a large one in Arklow as we speak and hoping to build something even bigger in Waterford.

except they want to do so by supporting rather than drawing upon the electricity grid.

Brian Donaldson is the Group Chief Executive of Maxall.

And David Smith is the Deputy Chief Executive of Echelon and is sitting in front of me.

Good morning, Brian.

Good morning, Joe.

Remind us why fuel prices in Ireland are among the highest in Europe.

Good morning, David.

Great to be here.

Tell us how data centres can support the grid rather than drawing upon it.

Non-urban environments.

That's a huge difference.

If you've got a large vehicle and you're in one of the border counties, it makes absolute sense to drive into Northern Ireland.

Do you see quite a few white regs up in Northern Ireland?

Okay, so give us an example of what you're doing to contribute.