Mr Martin was speaking after it emerged the Government commissioned a review into what has led to the worries that demand could outstrip supply at times this winter.
Last week, the energy regulator issued a consultation document in which it proposed a number of new tariffs be applied to extremely large energy users and through energy suppliers in order to help reduce demand during the peak hours of 5-7pm each day. Mr Martin said there was no question that there was growing demand on energy, as Ireland is growing as an economy and population, but he said that he thought people would have perhaps expected an earlier warning system in relation to issues that are materialising.
He said that meetings were held late last year, which approved emergency procurement of generation in an unprecedented way, which gave the capacity to procure energy generation on a short-term basis. He said that we have to deal with both the immediate, which he said Government gave capacity to on procurement this winter and next winter, but in the middle term given continued the growth of the economy, particularly on the industrial side, and the medium term plan is"extremely important".
Mr Deane cited the emergence of additional data centres as a contributing factor to additional energy use.