Irish Independent TD Ken O’Flynn has defended his decision to submit a large number of parliamentary questions to the Department of Health, amid concerns raised that clinical time was being lost by doctors having to answer each question.
The Irish Times understands that the Department of Health believes Mr O’Flynn’s barrage of questions were generated by artificial intelligence (AI). Asked whether technology was used to generate these questions, O’Flynn did not deny that they were generated by AI, but said, “The relevant question is not what tools were used. The relevant question is whether the information is accurate and whether the questions are legitimate.”
The issue of politicians’ alleged use of AI was raised at the Dáil Business Committee last month. Parliamentary Questions, known as PQs, are written questions that politicians can ask ministers. These are ways to hold the government to account, access important information, and follow up on voter questions. Currently there are no restrictions on them.
According to the Oireachtas website, Mr O’Flynn has asked more PQ questions than any politician so far this year, submitting 3,592 questions – 10 per cent of the total 35,752 asked by TDs. The second highest number of questions this year was asked by Fine Gael’s Barry Ward with 1,639.
Labour’s Duncan Smith is understood to have raised concerns at the economy committee about politicians using AI to push for mass PQs. Mary Butler, Minister for Mental Health and Chief of Staff to the Government, was quoted as saying in a closed meeting that a very large number of PQs were being submitted to the HSE’s mental health department.
The Irish Times understands from Department of Health sources that Mr O’Flynn had submitted a number of questions to the Department of Mental Health on three topics: One of the sources within the department said officials who saw the questions believed there were some characteristics associated with the AI-generated content based on the volume and wording of the questions.
Mr Butler told a meeting of politicians that such questions must be sent to the HSE, which often requires a clinician’s opinion before answering. This raised concerns that clinical time would be wasted on a large number of questions.
Ms Butler told The Irish Times she was concerned about the increase.
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“Health-related accounts for 52% of all PQs so any increase would be significant and the clinical time spent on response is a concern for me as Minister for Mental Health,” Mr Butler said.
A Department of Health spokesperson said: “We have observed an increase in the volume of parliamentary questions (PQs) received up to 2026 compared to previous years.”
“According to internal analysis, the department processed 14,277 PQs in 2025. Approximately 9,200 PQs have been received so far from January to May 2026.”
It is understood that the issue of the use of AI in the PQ could be considered by the Dáil reform committee during the summer. There is a belief within the government that unless this practice is stopped, restrictions may need to be imposed on PQs. However, the government also recognizes that this is unfair to opposition spokespeople who ask many questions on one topic on behalf of the party.
Mr O’Flynn said he was “concerned” that discussions at the business committee had been leaked to the media.
“In terms of the substance of your questions, all parliamentary questions submitted in my name will be considered, approved and submitted by me. I will support all of them.”
“As someone with dyslexia, I have used assistive technology throughout my professional life to help me process large amounts of information. I find it extremely unfortunate that some people would seek to portray the use of such tools as inappropriate.”
