Fingal County Council under fire for use of AI generated image

A County Council which used an image generated by artificial intelligence for a promo campaign said they were pressed for time and had no other pictures available.
Fingal County Council came under fire over the use of an AI image for the launch of a new food market at Swords Castle in North Dublin.
In internal emails, staff said the poster used was not "anyone's favourite image" and that a "combination of factors" had led to it being created.
One message said they were working with a "tight deadline" and that because the market was brand new, there were no existing images.
"Our team had the plan to swap out that image with actual photography of the first event, possibly rotating in and out new images," an email said.
The staff said there were a number of complaints about using AI for promotion.
One message sent to the council said: "The decision to use Al-generated imagery in a public arts context undermines the very spirit of creative and cultural expression that local councils should be championing".
"There are so many talented photographers, illustrators, and visual artists, many of whom live in our own community, who would jump at the chance for a commission like this," the message added.
Responding to them, Fingal County Council said the concerns were being "taken seriously."
An email said: "Given the tight deadline, they were left with limited options for the artwork [and] design approach. It is their intention to take a more creative approach once they have content e.g. photography from the markets," it said.
In later discussions however, one official queried whether they had done anything wrong.
They wrote to colleagues saying: "Wasn't aware that we're required to hire a designer nor that we're precluded from using Al-generated [material] but welcome any insights you have to share."
Asked about the discussions, a spokesman for Fingal County Council said they had nothing further to add.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Dublin Live

a day ago

• Dublin Live

Dublin Airport hit with enforcement notice over passenger cap breaches

Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Dublin Airport has blasted Ireland's "broken" planning system after it was hit with a two-year enforcement order for breaching its passenger cap. Airport operators daa say they have been waiting for a decision on both its infrastructure and operational applications - both of which would remove the current 32 million passenger cap - from An Bord Pleanala for five years. A spokesperson for daa has called for the removal of the passenger cap and an "urgent" overhaul of the current planning system. He said: "The fact that Fingal County Council is sending us an enforcement notice regarding 32 million passengers when passenger numbers will be north of 36 million this year and heading towards 40 million before the end of the decade is a sorry indictment of the mess that is the Irish planning system, particularly when it comes to the most vital piece of transport infrastructure on this island. The system is quite simply broken and needs to be overhauled urgently. "Until that happens our national airport is hamstrung and can't get on with its mandate to grow Ireland's connectivity. The passenger cap on Dublin Airport needs to be removed once and for all and the airport needs to be reclassified as national strategic infrastructure, with decisions made by a national planning body and not a local authority." DAA submitted a non-build application to the local authority in January which would allow it increase passenger capacity to 36 million. However, Fingal County Council declared this submission invalid and issued a request for further information which daa objected to. The council said the enforcement order issued today was in response to complaints received that the conditions were breached in 2023 and 2024. A spokesperson for the council said: 'The two-year period provides an opportunity for daa to progress their planning applications to increase passenger capacity at Dublin Airport or take such other steps as they consider appropriate to achieve compliance.' A Warning Letter was issued to daa providing them with an opportunity to respond. The airport operators responded to this letter but council officials said while it acknowledges the complexities presented it "does not constitute sufficient grounds to prevent further action" The council added: "The investigation has determined that a breach of the relevant planning conditions has occurred and remains ongoing. Fingal County Council, in accordance with its legal obligations as the Planning Authority, has issued an Enforcement Notice under Section 154 of the Planning and Development Act 2000. DAA has been given two years to bring its operations into compliance." Join our Dublin Live breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive your daily dose of Dublin Live content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice . For all the latest news from Dublin and surrounding areas visit our homepage.

The Journal

a day ago

• The Journal

JP McManus to address Limerick councillors after Rugby Expo 'gift' snubbed by local authority

BUSINESSMAN JP MCMANUS is to address the Mayor of Limerick and elected representatives at a closed-door meeting at Limerick City and County Council headquarters next week. The group will discuss why the council's controversial decision to decline his 'gift' of the €30m International Rugby Experience building on O'Connell Street in Limerick City as well as €1.2m in operating costs. It is understood that McManus hopes to set the record straight over costs associated with the charitable venture, which fell through over a difference of opinion between them around the costs of operating the building. The building, built to honour rugby, was launched by a host of rugby stars in 2023 and has been gathering dust since its shock closure last December . Fifty people were employed at the International Rugby Experience. It delivered an estimated €7.8m boost to the local economy and received 60,000 visitors in the 12 months that it was open. McManus, who secured the 2027 Ryder Cup for Limerick at his five-star Adare Manor Hotel, is to address the council on Thursday. Mayor of Limerick John Moran, senior executives and elected representatives will be in attendance. Limerick Fianna Fáil TD Willie O'Dea has been critical of the council's decision to decline McManus's 'generous offer'. He said: 'The gift horse is still there and the council is still looking at it in the mouth.' Advertisement 'My view is that it is a fantastic facility for Limerick and certain commitments were made by the council,' he said. 'It seems to me they weren't honoured. It's a tragedy to see it closed down now.' Labour councillor Joe Leddin argued that while he accepted the council executive and Moran had concerns about the future cost of running the building, the planned meeting with McManus on Thursday was a 'welcome' development. He said: 'To be fair to JP, he expended €30million+ on the acquisition of the old building, the design and rebuild and operations, and it's unfortunate now to see the facility closed in the heart of the city.' The International Rugby Experience was offered to the council last May as a 'debt-free gift'. It was proposed that the council would continue running the exhibition until 2028 and then, if it wished, the local authority could take control of the building for civic purposes. An agreement was reached in March 2024 with the local authority when the Head of Terms were signed by both parties, the International Rugby Experience claims. However, it was 'unable to advance' the deal and the building closed. In response, Limerick City Council said it was 'disappointed' with the International Rugby Experience's decision to close its doors and argued that it had made 'very effort' to secure the deal. It added that it was 'unable to secure a viable path forward' after finding it would have had to find 'substantial operational and capital funding' to continue the project. Chief executive of the experience Barry Hannon has claimed that the figures presented to councillors were 'over inflated'. Moran had offered to use €300,000 from the Mayoral fund to keep the building open, but the offer was rejected. McManus will address councillors about his disappointment at how the deal has turned sour, it is understood. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal

Agriland

2 days ago

• Agriland

DAA issued with enforcement notice over passenger cap breach

Fingal County Council has issued an enforcement notice to Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) requiring the authority to comply with planning conditions relating to a 'passenger cap' at Dublin Airport. The local authority has written to DAA over what it said was a breach of planning conditions imposed by An Bord Pleanála. The Dublin Airport passenger cap has proved controversial, with aviation sector stakeholders wanting to see the cap increased or removed altogether, and DAA applying to have the cap increased by 8 million people, or 25% higher than its current figure of 32 million. However, many environmental stakeholders, as well as farm organisations, have suggested that this would not be in line with environmental targets, with the farm organisation believing the move would be unfair given the climate-related restrictions on farming. A spokesperson for Fingal County Council said today (Friday, June 20): 'The two-year period provides an opportunity for DAA to progress its planning applications to increase passenger capacity at Dublin Airport, or take such other steps as they consider appropriate to achieve compliance.' The conditions were attached to planning permissions granted in 2008 for the construction of Terminal 2 and the extension of Terminal 1, and 'clearly stated' that the combined capacity of both terminals must not exceed 32 million passengers per annum. In response to complaints received alleging that the conditions were breached in 2023 and 2024, Fingal County Council, as the relevant planning authority, initiated a formal investigation to assess compliance with the conditions. A warning letter was issued to DAA, providing them with an opportunity to respond, which they did. Fingal County Council said it acknowledges the 'operational complexities', but that information provided by DAA does not constitute sufficient grounds to prevent further action. The investigation has determined that a breach of relevant planning conditions has occurred and remains ongoing. The county council said that, in accordance with its legal obligations as the planning authority, it issued an enforcement notice under section 154 of the Planning and Development Act 2000. DAA has been given two years to bring its operations into compliance. Passenger cap controversy The efforts to increase the Dublin Airport passenger cap has proven controversial with the farming community and farmer representatives. In early 2024, the Irish Farmers' Association (IFA), as part of a wider nationwide campaign of protests known as 'Enough is Enough', protested against the proposed increase. Speaking at a protest in February 2024 at Cork Airport (which is also run by DAA), Cork Central IFA chairperson Mathew Hurley said the aim of the protest was to highlight 'the unfairness' of Dublin Airport seeking to grow passenger numbers by 25%, while farmers must cut their emissions by the same amount. Also in early 2024, the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers' Association (ICMSA) said that any suggestion of lifting the cap on passenger numbers at Dublin Airport without referencing increased emissions would be 'surreal'. ICMSA president Denis Drennan said at the time that farmers, and the country's multi-billion euro dairy processing sector, will be closely watching the government's reaction to the 'campaign' to increase passenger numbers at Dublin Airport.