Gerard Hutch believes he could be Ireland’s richest TD if he is elected to the Dáil in next month’s Dublin Central byelection.
Conor Gallagher from our Investigations Unit and videographer Enda O’Dowd travelled to Lanzarote in the Canary Islands to examine Hutch’s assets and sat down for a candid interview with the veteran criminal.
They established details about the Monk’s property portfolio in Spain and how Spanish authorities have frozen some of those properties as part of a money-laundering investigation.
A relaxed Hutch discusses his life and political ambitions, but refuses to disclose how many properties he owns. He says he will do so if elected to the Dáil. Asked if he would be the richest TD in Leinster House, he replies: “I’d have to have a chat with Healy-Raes. We would open our piggy banks together.”
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When Enda asks him about a person with a past like his being elected a TD, he says: “It would be great to put someone in with a chequered past.”
He said that over the years there were “bombers in there. There is somebody who was done for armed robbery, gun smugglers.”
“That’s what you need in the Dáil, people like me there who can talk to people on the street.”
Women and the young will be victims of AI job losses
Pat Leahy has been writing about the Government-commissioned report on the possible impacts of AI, both positive and negative, on Ireland in the coming months and years.
Given how quickly the technology has established itself, there was a bit of urgency to the report, written by the National Economic and Social Council (Nesc), which is chaired by the State’s top civil servant, John Callinan.
Its recommendations included a new office to co-ordinate the regulation of artificial intelligence. That office would also run campaigns to help businesses and wider society adapt to the rapid rollout of the technology.
The Cabinet yesterday agreed to set up the office and also to hold an international AI summit during Ireland’s presidency of the Council of the European Union.
The watch phrase for the report, and Ministers speaking on the issue, is to focus on “safe and responsible development and use of AI in Ireland”.
Leahy quotes from the report which finds that AI exposure “is polarised”, with a significant share of workers in administrative and support roles “facing greater displacement risks”.
“Women are disproportionately represented in the higher-risk cohort, reflecting a larger share of female workers in administrative roles,” it says.
Analysis by the Department of Finance has already found evidence of an AI effect, suggesting “significantly weaker employment growth over the past two years in AI-exposed sectors as compared to sectors with lower relative exposure. This trend is more pronounced for younger workers.”
Taoiseach rules out mini-budget despite Sinn Féin demands
Taoiseach Micheál Martin has rejected calls for an emergency or mini-budget as the Opposition called for a further package to help households manage the upheaval caused by events in the Middle East.
The Government will this morning set out the finer detail of a €100 million support package geared to assist the agricultural, haulage, construction, quarrying and fishing sectors, which was first announced at the tail-end of the recent fuel protests and blockades.
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald yesterday renewed her party’s call for an emergency budget, a “permanent USC cut that puts €500 back in workers’ pockets”, energy credits for households, a €500 payment for people with disabilities and “a suite of measures to protect the most vulnerable”. Labour also called for a mini-budget focusing on PAYE workers.
The Social Democrats argued that the State should give financial help to all households with incomes of €70,000 or less.
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On that subject, Miriam Lord in her column writes that the mini (budget) is back in fashion.
Ellen O’Riordan and Marie O’Halloran report on Social Democrats’ leader Holly Cairns calling for the three-day wait for an abortion referral to be abolished, describing it as “patronising”.
Cormac McQuinn and Martin Wall report that the OPW has racked up legal costs of more than €1 million in marathon dealings with the promoters of the unbuilt children’s science museum.
Kathy Sheridan, in her column, asks what is the point of character references in court cases?
Playbook
Dáil Éireann
9am: Topical Issues
10am: Independent Technical Group has a motion on Family Law Transparency, Child Welfare, and Reform of the In Camera Rule
Noon: Leaders’ Questions
2.12pm: Mental Health Bill 2024 – Amendments from the Seanad
6.12pm: International Co-operation (Omagh bombing Inquiry) Bill 2026 – Report and Final Stages
8.12pm: Motion re Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 21.12: Deferred Divisions, weekly votes
9.42pm: Dáil adjourns
Seanad Éireann
10.30am: Commencement Matters
12.45pm: Statements on Energy Security
2pm: Statements on Public Procurement
3.30pm: Private Members’ Motion on a Wildlife Rehabilitation Support Scheme
5.30pm: Private Members’ Motion on the Annual Progress Report and Government Response to Energy Price Pressures
7.30pm: Seanad adjourns
Committees
9.30am Transport Committee discussion on road safety
9.30am: Social Protection Committee discusses enterprise hubs
9.30am: Health Committee discusses the adequacy of radiation oncology capacity in the public hospital system and the need for investment in the renewal and expansion of infrastructure
12.30pm: Enterprise Committee discusses AI in the workplace and will also talk to chair of Enterprise Ireland to discuss their strategic priorities for the role
12.30pm: The Committee on Arts, Media and Sports will consider the long-term effects of repetitive head injuries in retired athletes
4.15pm: The Committee on Agriculture and Food discusses fertiliser input costs
