Independent Ireland TD Ken O’Flynn has defended himself for submitting a high volume of parliamentary questions to the Department of Health, as concerns were raised that clinical time is being lost by doctors who have to answer each query.
The Irish Times understands the Department of Health believes the high volume of questions from O’Flynn were generated by artificial intelligence (AI). Asked if he had used the technology to generate such questions, O’Flynn, who did not deny they had been AI-generated, said: “The relevant question is not what tool was used. The relevant question is whether the information is accurate and whether the questions are legitimate.”
The issue of politicians allegedly using AI was raised at the Dáil business committee last month. Parliamentary questions – known as PQs – are written questions that politicians can ask ministers. They are a way to hold the Government to account, access important information or follow up on a query for a constituent. There are currently no limits on them.
According to the Oireachtas website, O’Flynn has by far asked the highest number of PQs out of all politicians so far this year – having submitted 3,592 questions or 10 per cent of the total 35,752 asked by TDs. The second highest number of questions asked this year were the 1,639 asked by Fine Gael’s Barry Ward.
Labour’s Duncan Smith is understood to have raised concerns at the business committee about the use of AI by politicians to ask a high volume of PQs. Minister for Mental Health and chief Government whip, Mary Butler, is understood to have told the private meeting that a very high volume of PQs have been submitted to the HSE’s mental health unit.
The Irish Times understands from a source in the Department of Health that O’Flynn had submitted a high number of questions on three topics to the mental health unit.According to one source within the department, officials who have seen the questions believethey bore some characteristics associated with AI-generated content based on the volume of questions and the style of language.
Butler told the meeting of politicians that such questions need to be sent to the HSE, and often require the input of a clinician before they can be answered. This led to concerns that clinical time could be wasted on a high volume of questions.
Butler told The Irish Times she was concerned about the increase.
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“Health gets 52 per cent of all PQs so any ramp up is significant, and the amount of clinical hours spent on responses is a worry for me as minister for mental health,” Butler said.
A spokesman for the Department of Health said it “has observed an increase in the volume of Parliamentary Questions (PQs) received so far in 2026 compared with previous years”.
“Based on internal analysis, the department processed 14,277 PQs in 2025. Approximately 9,200 PQs have been received to-date between January and May 2026.”
It is understood the issue of AI use for PQs may be considered by the Dáil reform committee during the summer. Within the Government there is a belief that unless the practice stops, a limit on PQs might have to be imposed. However, the Government also recognises this would be unfair on Opposition spokespeople who ask a lot of questions on one topic on behalf of their party.
O’Flynn said he was “concerned” that discussions at the business committee had been leaked to the media.
“As for the substance of your query, every Parliamentary Question submitted in my name is reviewed, approved and submitted by me. I stand over every one of them.”
“As someone with dyslexia, I have used assistive technologies throughout my professional life to help process large volumes of information. I regard it as deeply disappointing that anyone would seek to portray the use of such tools as something improper.”
