CCTV and illegal dumping
Senator Malcolm Byrne says a previous reply on CCTV and local authority recording devices was recycled and argues the Department is not taking illegal dumping seriously. Senator Mullen and Byrne trade light remarks, but the issue remains Byrne's complaint about enforcement.
I join others in welcoming the publication of yesterday's report. It is crucial that action is taken. Every workplace should be safe. The members of Women of Honour deserve to be recognised for their whistleblowing. They have done the State great service in so doing. Like Senator Wall, I recognise the work of our colleague, Senator Clonan, and Katie Hannon for the radio documentary that did much to bring attention to this issue.
In a Commencement debate this morning, I raised an issue I have often brought up in the House, namely, the deployment of closed-circuit television, CCTV, and other technology to catch illegal dumping. I have brought in legislation on this issue, as has Senator Wall. My Bill was eventually folded into the Circular Economy and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2022, which was enacted last year. In the Commencement matter, I asked what progress had been made in commencing the order that would allow CCTV to be used by local authorities. I asked the same question last October of the Minister of State, Deputy Ossian Smyth, and nobody from the Department came in here to answer it. The Minister of State, Deputy O'Donovan, had to read out the answer that was provided. I have to question whether ChatGPT was being used in the Department to provide answers. Somebody in the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications just asked for an answer to Malcolm Byrne raising questions again about the deployment of CCTV.
Comment on this
Did they not just use the previous answer?
Comment on this
It was the previous answer. It was the Circular Economy and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2022 by name and by nature. I will give an example. The reply I received last October stated:
In order to address data protection concerns, the Act also sets out a number of conditions that must be complied with prior to the introduction and the use of CCTV and other mobile recording devices by local authorities. The Local Government Management Agency, LGMA, is required to prepare and submit draft codes of practice to the Minister for approval.
It goes on and the same answer was provided to me this morning. It is not good enough. The issue is not being taken seriously. I am convinced that ChatGPT is being used for some of these replies.
Comment on this
It is the circular economy. The Department is not taking the scourge of illegal dumping seriously.