Golf events and fireside chats — Sinn Féin's Canadian fundraising arm sees more donations ‘for the Irish peace process'
Sinn Féin's Canadian fundraising arm has had an increase in donations for support of the 'Irish peace process', accounts filed in Canada show.
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The Journal
an hour ago
- The Journal
Political parties scramble to introduce policies around AI use after Swedish House Mafia-gate
IRISH POLITICAL PARTIES are beginning to develop policies around the use of artificial intelligence (AI) after MEP Ciaran Mullooly revealed he used it to write a letter to the President of the European Commission. In the letter, which urged the EU to deliver more aid to Gaza, the Independent Ireland MEP inadvertently quoted the house music group Swedish House Mafia and recounted a fictional story of a girl in Rafah without indicating that she was not real. Following this, The Journal contacted all political parties represented in Dáil Éireann to see if they have policies or guidelines in place around the use of AI for public representatives. No party currently does. While the Labour Party said it has been working on guidelines since earlier this year, other parties were left scrambling after Mullooly's AI-assisted letter made headlines. The Social Democrats, Fine Gael and Independent Ireland all said they are currently working on developing policies, while the Green Party is also examining the idea as part of a strategic plan. A Sinn Féin source admitted that the Mullooly story was sent around to TDs as a 'cautionary tale' but said the party does not currently have any guidelines around the use of AI. Despite the slow uptake from political HQs on the issue, many TDs were more vocal about their feelings on the use of the technology in public life. When asked if they use AI to assist their work as a TD, just four current members of the Dáil admitted that they do. Independent TD Barry Heneghan used AI to create a song as part of his election campaign and said he uses a mix of programmes now as a TD, such as ChatGPT and Microsoft 365 Co-pilot, depending on the work he wants to streamline. Fianna Fáil's Paul McAuliffe, Fine Gael's John Paul O'Shea and Labour's Conor Sheehan all said they use programmes like ChatGPT and Co-pilot on occasion to help with admin tasks, but all were of the view that it shouldn't be used for drafting speeches or public statements. Advertisement 'I think transparency is important in this job. It's still up to TDs to stand over what they say and do, and AI can make mistakes and add things in that you would never say,' Heneghan said. He added: 'If you trusted it for your whole speech, it doesn't sound human in my opinion.' Independent Ireland TD Ken O'Flynn compared AI to the printing press and said his party supports the 'responsible use' of the emerging technology. 'Whether to improve communication or streamline workflows, like the printing press or the personal computer, artificial intelligence may face scepticism in its early stages but if history has shown us anything, it is that new tools often begin with controversy and end with positive transformation.' Most other TDs we contacted said they do not use AI to assist with their work, although many parties said staff sometimes use it for research purposes or admin. When asked if politicians should have to disclose when they have used AI to draft a speech or statement, most TDs we contacted said yes. A spokesperson for Independent Ireland said it 'would not be a bad idea in the interests of transparency', while Green Party leader Roderic O'Gorman went further and said it should also be disclosed when politicians use it to alter images of themselves. A number of TDs said it came down to being honest with constituents, while others, like People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy, said he was against its use on environmental grounds. Labour TD Duncan Smith argued that it is lazy for TDs to use AI. The Dublin Fingal East TD said he doesn't use it because he has 'no interest in selling my constituents short'. 'When people elect you to represent them, it should actually be you and the team you put together to work with you, representing your constituents. 'I think TDs using AI are displaying laziness at best and I think it shows a lack of respect to the people who have elected you to the Dáil, who rightfully expect you to be putting in the work,' he said. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Irish Examiner
an hour ago
- Irish Examiner
John Whelan: Ireland behind the curve in pharma R&D amid Pfizer call
Pharma companies met with the Trump administration earlier this month to try and defer implementation of the executive order signed by President Trump on May 12, effectively forcing drug companies to commit to aligning their US prices with 'the lowest price of a set of economic peer countries''. At the meeting of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) with the Trump administration, Pfizer chief executive Albert Bourla called for the US government to lead an initiative to increase overall drug spending outside the US. While the exact mechanism of implementing the Trump executive order to reduce drug prices in the US remains unclear, the Pfizer chief proposed an alternative solution, suggesting that other countries should spend a certain percentage of their GDP per capita on innovative medicines. In an attempt to lead on the recommendation, he added that Pfizer could consider not making its drugs available for government reimbursement in some countries if the US carries through on its price control and other countries don't increase their prices. Effectively, Mr Bourla, who chairs the pharma industry lobby group PhRMA, suggested the US should push for a Nato-type agreement, which commits each country to a minimum 2% of their national GDP on defence spending. And whereas there may be good logic in the Pfizer proposal, any commitment of this nature will likely create major challenges for Ireland, as OECD and World Bank figures show Ireland lagging well behind other countries in research and development expenditure. In 2022, the last year for which finalised figures have been released, US pharmaceutical companies' R&D spending amounted to 2.33% of the nation's GDP. There is no comparable figures for the Irish market, in terms of pharmaceutical industry expenditure in research and development. However, the figures available from the World Bank and the OECD for years 2022/2023 show that total R&D for all industry as a percentage of GDP, in Ireland was 0.9%. This is well below the EU average of 2.29%, and even further below countries like the US at 3.6% and Israel at 6.3% who invest more heavily in R&D than Ireland. Economists have inferred that Trump is leveraging unfavourable policies such as drastically lowering prices points of US drugs and tariffs on imports, to coerce the pharmaceutical industry to increase investments in the US. Several large pharma companies, including Eli Lilly, Merck & Co, and Bristol Myers Squibb, have unveiled major US investments planned for the next few years in attempt to curry favour with the Trump administration. But noticeably Pfizer remains an exception to that trend. However, Mr Bourla stated that Pfizer has invested in US manufacturing and will continue to do so, but risks from those Trump policies are making it difficult for the company to commit further. "I don't think it makes sense to make announcements of future investments in an environment that is very fluid,' Mr Bourla said. That suggests Pfizer, one of our largest and longest-term investors in the pharmaceuticals space, is unlikely to back off its Irish investments anytime soon. However , we need to heed the Pfizer CEO's call for more R&D support in Europe, which clearly includes Ireland. Besides Pfizer, many pharma companies are leveraging the United States' threat of tariffs on drug imports to push for policy changes in the EU. In a letter sent on April 11 to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, 32 pharma companies demanded more favourable policies in order for them to maintain operations in the EU . In the same letter they say that policy changes are needed to ensure Europe remains a location to research, develop, and manufacture medicines. The CEOs also included in their letter that European countries should rethink their drug pricing policies and enable a better commercial environment for innovative medicines. Ireland's Research and Innovation Act 2024 , replaces Science Foundation Ireland in an attempt to fast forward the provision for the funding of research and innovation, but this caters for all fields of activity and neither commits to double the level of funding to €2bn per year needed to reach EU level, nor does it commit to meet the specific requirements of the pharma industry.
Irish Examiner
an hour ago
- Irish Examiner
Infrastructure taskforce to be updated on project delays
The Government's recently-formed infrastructure taskforce is to be briefed on the delays besetting key projects across the country. Public expenditure minister Jack Chambers is to chair the second meeting of the 'accelerating infrastructure taskforce', which is focusing on removing barriers to delivery. At the meeting, it is expected that members will be briefed on specific projects that have been subject to different types of delay. This will include the M28 Ringaskiddy-to-Cork road, alongside water and energy projects across the country. One government source said taskforce members will examine what changes to current processes and project requirements could be made to 'strike the appropriate balance between the controls and procedures governing the delivery of major capital projects'. It is understood the taskforce will submit a report that identifies the specific barriers to infrastructure delivery to the Government by the end of July. It comes after one member of the taskforce, Economic and Social Research Institute chairman Sean O'Driscoll, told the Irish Examiner there were 'catastrophic consequences' facing Ireland's water, energy, and transport networks if 'radical and brave decisions are not taken to ensure projects get completed quicker'. Mr O'Driscoll said the Government needed to accept that there is a 'national crisis' in Irish infrastructure, while adding that public servants are more 'scared' of the public accounts committee than the economy declining. Meanwhile, Taoiseach Micheál Martin is to bring an update on the Government's expert group on conveyancing and probate, with the group set to be extended for a further six months. The group is recommending a more permanent structure to take over dealing with issues surrounding probate and conveyancing in December. Conveyancing and probate are the legal processes for transferring a property from one person to another, or for when an individual dies. The Government's aim through the group is to speed up the conveyancing and probate processes, to avoid houses being left empty due to being stuck in lengthy processes. There is a target of an eight-week turnaround time for solicitors to complete conveyancing, from the acceptance of an offer to its close. A new e-probate system is expected to be launched later this year, which the Government believes will significantly reduce processing times and delays. The group is continuing to develop proposals around the establishment of an e-conveyancing system over the coming six months. Cabinet will also be briefed around the implementation of the Dublin City taskforce report. It is understood that proposals within the implementation plan include the establishment of a development body for regeneration projects in the city. This would include the future use of the GPO on O'Connell Street, but would also look at regenerating shops, apartments, and offices within the city. Elsewhere, a meeting between transport minister Darragh O'Brien and justice minister Jim O'Callaghan took place last week to discuss options for the establishment of a new transport police. It is understood that any such force would operate outside An Garda Síochána and would not be under the remit of the Department of Justice. Government sources indicated that the current preferred model would see the transport police led by the National Transport Authority, with powers similar to that of the airport police.
