Senator wonders whether department officials are using ChatGPT to answer parliamentary questions
Senator Malcolm Byrne
A Fianna Fáil senator has questioned whether officials at the Department of the Environment are using ChatGPT in writing responses to questions about illegal dumping.
Senator Malcolm Byrne told the Seanad he asked the Department questions about when county councils will be able to use CCTV to clamp down on illegal dumping.
He read a response from the Department last October and said “exact same answer” was provided to him again today.
Senator Byrne wondered if officials within the department asked the free online AI service, which allows the user to put in a request and then generates an answer using artificial intelligence, were using this service when giving out answers.
“I have to question whether ChatGPT is being used now in the department in providing answers. Somebody in the Department of Environment just said, ‘Give me an answer to Malcolm Byrne asking questions again about the deployment of CCTV’,” he told the Seanad.
The use of CCTV to catch illegal dumping for local authorities was enacted last year in the Circular Economy Bill.
Under the bill, local authorities would be able to use CCTV in illegal dumping blackspots to catch people who are throwing away their rubbish.
He put in queries asking when a commencement order would be enacted to give local authorities permission to use CCTV.
“It is not good enough. The issue is not taken seriously. And clearly, it is the case and I am convinced ChatGPT is being used for some of these replies.
“The department is not taking the issue of illegal dumping seriously.”
A spokesperson for the department said officials are not using Chat GPT.
The spokesperson rejected the suggestion by Senator Byrne that the issue is “not taken seriously”.
“ The position has been outlined to the Senator previously.
"This is a complex legal area involving matters that include privacy and data protection.
"To address these concerns the Circular Economy and Miscellaneous Provisions Act – enacted in July of last year – sets out a number of conditions that must be complied with, prior to the introduction and use of CCTV and other mobile recording devices by local authorities.”
Latest Politics
Over 2,500 families facing eviction as Government housing targets ‘insufficient’
Government parties set for fresh row after Taoiseach says houses for private sale ‘highest priority’ over social housing
Intensive agriculture is ‘the tail wagging the dog’ of the political class, says Green TD Brian Leddin, citing mass bird decline
Beyoncé skipping Ireland and world’s biggest juggling convention pulled over sky-high insurance costs
Cabinet to approve primary school counselling services across seven counties on a pilot basis
Ireland needs to build more prisons, says outgoing Justice Minister Simon Harris
Obituary of Derek Keating: Political activist who was in Fianna Fáil and the PDs before becoming a Fine Gael TD
‘You ain’t seen nothing yet’ – warning food-price inflation is set to ‘go through the roof’
-
Hugh O’Connell: Coalition sniping and backbiting ramp up as countdown to general election begins
Emergency welfare payments almost double in a year amid cost-of-living crisis, but thousands have requests refused
Top Stories
The Indo Daily: Queen Elizabeth II, the IRA and the FBI
“It could take me a year to write a song” – Hozier on finding inspiration in Dante’s nine circles of Hell
Security guards drafted in for Irish Countrywomen’s Association AGM amid fears gathering could become unruly
Thousands show up at Thomond Park to welcome triumphant Munster players home
Latest NewsMore
Second level schools asking parents for voluntary contributions of up to €550
Reverend Richard Coles on BBC: ‘I felt rather hurtled towards the exit’
New industry working group to consider pay issues over music streaming
Eamonn Holmes alleges ‘total cover-up’ at ITV over Phillip Schofield affair
‘It’s a bigger deal for my family and friends – it’s a professional game’ – Felix Jones on his post-World Cup England move
What to watch on TV, Netflix, AppleTV+, Prime and Disney+ today: Documentary series My Life as a Rolling Stone, comedy drama The Favourite and Siren: Survive The Island
Beyonce kicks off first London show with gratitude during dazzling disco party
Comedians back campaign against Lake Windermere sewage pollution
Una Healy pokes fun at throuple rumours in new TV interview
‘We spoke about being big Wexford men and going to every ball because so much was relying on it’ - Diarmuid O’Keeffe
