Latest news with #PublicServiceReformandDigitalisation
Agriland
31-07-2025
- Business
- Agriland
Minister explains how revenue from carbon tax is being used
The Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, Jack Chambers has said that in 2025, €951 million was allocated from carbon tax revenues. In both 2024 and 2025, the carbon tax increased by €7.50/t, as per the Finance Act 2020. According to Minister Chambers, these increases are phased, with auto fuel changes being introduced annually in October, and changes for all other fuels the following May, to allow for a lower rate on home heating fuels during the winter heating season. The minister outlined that the programme for government commits to maintaining this schedule of annual increases to 2030, and using the resulting revenues raised to support climate action measures. This revenue will aso be used to ensure "the most vulnerable" are protected from unintended impacts of the tax increase, Minister Chambers explained. He said that this includes funding for retrofitting and agri-environmental schemes, alongside targeted social welfare and other initiatives to prevent fuel poverty and ensure a just transition. The minister highlighted that in 2024, €788 million was allocated from carbon tax revenues in total, and that in 2025, this allocation grew to €951 million. This represented an annual increase of €163 million on the amounts funded from the carbon tax increase in 2023 and 2024. Minister Chambers said: "In line with the government's commitment to allocate funding over this decade to encourage and incentivise farmers to farm in a greener and more sustainable way, at Budget 2024, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) was allocated €113 million funded from increases in the carbon tax, 14% of the total annual allocation. "At Budget 2025, this amount was increased to €143 million, 15% of the total annual allocation." "The amounts part-fund the Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) and to continue prior commitments on green agriculture pilot projects. "These allocations support farmers as they undertake a range of actions which will result in improved outcomes on biodiversity, climate, air, and water quality," Minister Chambers added. According to the minister, between 2020 and July 16, 2025, DAFM has been allocated a total of €366 million in carbon tax funding for these measures, including as part of Budget 2025. Minister Chambers said that his department issues an annual publication on budget day titled The Use of Carbon Tax Funds, which contains further detail on these allocations.
Irish Independent
15-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Dublin TD Sinead Gibney replaced as Social Democrats Foreign Affairs spokesperson
The TD has been replaced by Senator Patricia Stephenson. Ms Gibney confirmed this morning that she is no longer the party's spokesperson on Foreign Affairs. She was appointed the party spokesperson for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation; Enterprise, Tourism and Employment; Foreign Affairs and Trade; and Defence after the general election. However, she is now no longer the spokesperson for the brief. Party sources said TDs were reshuffled spokesperson positions as they were assigned committee roles in recent days. Asked at Leinster House today if it was true she was no longer Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Ms Gibney confirmed: "Yes, and there will be a statement from the party." She would not answer questions on whether she is leaving the party. Social Democrats stand-in leader Cian O'Callaghan said today: "I'm not aware that she's cheesed off, or anything." He said Ms Gibney would have three other roles as spokesperson for the party, on Enterprise, Trade and Employment; Arts, Media, Communications and Culture; and on Defence. Asked if there was any reason she had been reshuffled out of Foreign Affairs, he said: "No. She has been excellent in the role." "We are readjusting our senior roles," Mr O'Callaghan said. Senator Patricia Stephenson was taking over the role and joining the Dáil Foreign Affairs committee "because of her background in peace-building." Gibney has been vocal on Gaza and last week would not rule out resigning form the party if Eoin Hayes was readmitted. Mr Hayes was suspended from the party pending an internal review, after it emerged he sold his shares in a US software company that supplies technology to the Israeli military following his election as a councillor last year. An internal review in February, which examined both the suspension of Mr Hayes and the party's candidate selection process, decided to uphold the indefinite suspension of the Dublin Bay South TD.
RTÉ News
07-05-2025
- RTÉ News
Government publishes new AI guidelines for public service
The Government has published new guidelines for the responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the public service. The framework advises against the use of free generative AI (GenAI) models. This would include popular chatbot tools like ChatGPT and DeepSeek. "Free GenAI tools are very accessible but because they lack suitable management and oversight pose significant risks for use in the Irish public sector," the guidelines state. "Any information given to a public GenAI tool could be used in training the model. Thus, we advise against their use in the public service," it adds. The plan outlines the importance of having safeguards and human oversight in place, and the need for AI systems to be dependable and secure. The guidelines state that systems must have robust policies in place to protect personal data and highlights the need for the public service to be transparent and upfront with end-users when AI systems are being used. "This includes notifying end-users when they are interacting with an AI system (e.g. a chatbot) or where an output has been generated by an AI system," the guidelines said. The plan states that AI systems that are being used must be fair and inclusive. "Unfair bias in AI could harm individuals, communities, and society. Thus, we must undertake comprehensive bias detection and implement mitigation strategies where required," it states. The guidelines include a decision framework for evaluating the potential use of AI, as well as steps to be followed at planning stage. Learning and development materials, as well as free tutorials and courses, will be made available to public servants. The Government said the guidelines compliment and inform existing strategies regarding the adoption of technology and ways of working already under way in the public service. The guidelines contain examples of how AI is already being used across public services, including at St Vincent's University Hospital in Dublin where staff are exploring the potential for AI to assist with performing heart ultrasound scans, in order to help reduce waiting times for patients. The Revenue Commissioners are using large language models to route taxpayer queries more efficiently. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is developing an AI-supported solution to detect errors in grant applications and reduce processing times. "AI offers immense possibilities to improve the provision of public services," said Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation Jack Chambers. "These guidelines support public service bodies in undertaking responsible innovation in a way that is practical, helpful and easy to follow." "In keeping with Government's AI strategy, the guidance as well as the learning and development supports being offered by the Institute for Public Administration, will help public servants to pursue those opportunities in a way that is responsible," Mr Chambers said.
