When objecting becomes objectionable

Ireland has the good fortune to have both the climate and the space for data centre location. So why are we making it so hard for companies to do business with us?

Data centres aren’t sexy. They are the backbone of the technology we now take for granted. But for the most part they are, and should be, as uncontroversial as you can possibly get. Unless, of course, it involves Apple, Ireland and this country’s planning laws.

Tomorrow, the objectors to Apple’s €850 million proposed data centre close to Athenry in Galway will have one more attempt to block the plan as currently envisaged. For ...