AI creating Dáil 'bottleneck' due to surge in parliamentary questions being asked

While nobody was named at the meeting, several TDs speaking to the 'Irish Examiner' after the meeting said Independent Ireland’s Ken O’Flynn was mentioned. He has asked 4,500 PQs so far this year. File picture: Stephen Collins/Collins

Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy is to write to all TDs asking them to be mindful of the number of parliamentary questions being asked amid fears that AI is driving a surge in questions.

The Standing Orders and Dáil Reform Committee met on Tuesday to discuss several issues, with the number of parliamentary questions (PQs) up for discussion.

Over 41,000 PQs have been asked so far this year, up from 29,000 on the same period last year.

While nobody was named at the meeting, several TDs speaking to the Irish Examiner after the meeting said Independent Ireland’s Ken O’Flynn was mentioned. He has asked 4,500 PQs so far this year.

At the meeting, members heard that the number of questions being asked by all TDs is overwhelming Government departments, leading to longer response times, increased workloads, and increasing costs.

It is also creating a “bottleneck”, one TD said.

There was concern expressed about duplicate and repetitive questions being asked by TDs, with the meeting hearing suggestions that this could be due to AI.

One TD said: “Everywhere else, AI is costing jobs. In the Oireachtas it is creating more jobs as we need questions answered.” 

They said there are predictions that there may be over 100,000 PQs asked this year.

TDs said that nobody wants a limit on the number of PQs asked, but some sort of solution is needed. 

One TD suggested there could be a limit placed on TDs who are seen to be submitting PQs that are being generated by AI.

Another person at the meeting said there is “reluctance” to be “take rash action”.

“If this isn’t dealt with, the PQ system is going to shut down,” one TD said.

Ms Murphy is expected to write to TDs asking them to be mindful of the number of questions they are submitting. 

Several people said they expect that this will refer to questions being generated through AI.

• Louise Byrne is Political Correspondent.