Senator Quinn suggests counter-terrorist software should be used to monitor social welfare recipients use of social media

Senator Feargall Quinn moments ago in the Seanad has suggested that the Government consider monitoring the use of the internet by social welfare recipients to detect instances of fraud. Keywords such as "holiday" and "new car" could indicate instances of fraud, according to Senator Quinn.

Quinn, speaking during the Second Stage of the Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2012 in the Seanad, suggested the Government consider a system used in the Netherlands which uses counter-terrorism software to detect keywords used by recipients of social welfare.

Senator Quinn appeared to be referencing Peter Cluskey's piece in the Irish Times from September of last year (here). A trial in the Netherlands across 10 local authorites uses counter-terrorism software to scan the keywords used in search engines and on social networks to detect fraud.

The founder of Com-Connect Digitale Opsporing is reported as telling Cluskey that 70% of cases investigated as a result of the monitoring resulted in fraud being uncovered.

Categories:
Social Affairs

125 Comments

sethjem7 - 27th April 2012, 12:10 PM
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Originally Posted by mctree

I'm surprised so many are against it. When sensible countries like the Netherlands do things like this then perhaps we should take notice.

Our welfare bill is €21 billion. 2/3 of what we are actually taking in. If Germany or The Netherlands were spending that percentage of their income on welfare they would really be taking some serious decisions.

No, I take notice when our civil liberties begin to erode, it always starts somewhere! I don't want to live in a country where the state has a boot in your face!

bonkers - 27th April 2012, 12:11 PM
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Quinn was a great business man and treated his staff well in Superquinn. This is absolute nonsense he has come out with.

vanla sighs - 27th April 2012, 12:12 PM
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Originally Posted by sethjem7

I am protesting, what do you think I am worried about?

Huh?

I think you misunderstand what I am saying, this is a crazy proposal and he has made himself look incredibly stupid.

Desperate Dan - 27th April 2012, 12:14 PM
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Originally Posted by bonkers

Quinn was a great business man and treated his staff well in Superquinn. This is absolute nonsense he has come out with.

It gives you an example of the type of conversation the goes on in that little pathetic club.

MacBeth - 27th April 2012, 12:16 PM
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Originally Posted by mctree

I'm surprised so many are against it. When sensible countries like the Netherlands do things like this then perhaps we should take notice.

Our welfare bill is €21 billion. 2/3 of what we are actually taking in. If Germany or The Netherlands were spending that percentage of their income on welfare they would really be taking some serious decisions.

The "sensible" Netherlands is not doing this. And the reason the welfare bill if so high is because smug capitalists and worthless politicians have destroyed the economy and put 300,000 people out of work.

sethjem7 - 27th April 2012, 12:17 PM
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Originally Posted by vanla sighs

Any evidence Quinn is leeching off the State? Yes, he's a Senator.

People are protesting and must be worried? Jeses, lol. People are just saying what a total eejit he has made himself look like.

Originally Posted by sethjem7

I am protesting, what do you think I am worried about?

Originally Posted by vanla sighs

Huh?

Sorry Vanla, didn't interpret your post well at all. Apologies!

MacBeth - 27th April 2012, 12:17 PM
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Originally Posted by sethjem7

No, I take notice when our civil liberties begin to erode, it always starts somewhere! I don't want to live in a country where the state has a boot in your face!

If the Germans are doing it then it must be ok. It's not like they've ever got it wrong before.

CookieMonster - 27th April 2012, 12:18 PM
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I'm all for cracking down of welfare fraud, but this is just ridiculous.

Anyway, who the hell googles "new car"?

friendlyfire - 27th April 2012, 12:19 PM
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He wants to look around him over a million wasted for a glass sweet shop on the grounds of the Oireachtas, you and your fellow T.D's and senators have the golden ticket alright.

tommygavin - 27th April 2012, 12:19 PM
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all ye lads on the dole better clear off now for a while

vanla sighs - 27th April 2012, 12:19 PM
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You can watch the Senate proceedings live here If you're bored. Don't see Quinn, probably gone to get his meds.

statsman - 27th April 2012, 12:20 PM
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Originally Posted by CookieMonster

I'm all for cracking down of welfare fraud, but this is just ridiculous.

Anyway, who the hell googles "new car"?

A senator?

daveL - 27th April 2012, 12:21 PM
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Originally Posted by Ren84

No wonder his supermarket chain went tits up if this is the sort of bollox he dreams up. For the love of god give us a referendum on abolishing the useless talking shop that is the Seanad now!

think your wrong there

but he shouldn't be in the seanad offering advice on anything other than the domestic retail sector

vanla sighs - 27th April 2012, 12:21 PM
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Originally Posted by sethjem7

Sorry Vanla, didn't interpret your post well at all. Apologies!

No worries.

LamportsEdge - 27th April 2012, 12:22 PM
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Originally Posted by friendlyfire

He wants to look around him over a million wasted for a glass sweet shop on the grounds of the Oireachtas, you and your fellow T.D's and senators have the golden ticket alright.

I hadn't hear about the million euro sweetshop. Did Donie get the contract for that? Gas lads in the Senate. We might have to amend the old saw about throwing stones around in glasshouses to change to 'Senators throwing gobstoppers around in their own glass sweetshop'.

Desperate Dan - 27th April 2012, 12:29 PM
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He hasn't been on the television for some time, maybe he thinks his public have forgotten him, if this is the best, his pr people can come up with,( but then these pr people are getting on as well) maybe he should look for some younger pr to write his speeches, since he does not seem to be up to the task himself.

Jackass - 27th April 2012, 12:36 PM
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We should extend the monitoring to cover the Dail and the Senate where there are more fiddles than Waltons music store. Another member of the millionaire club hiding behind an accountant.

MacBeth - 27th April 2012, 12:40 PM
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Originally Posted by Jackass

We should extend the monitoring to cover the Dail and the Senate. ******************************

Michelle Mulherin claimed €46,133.39 in expenses during her first year in the Dáil. How can a pointless backbencher accumulate or justify that? Surely there should be an audit of her expenses.

Five Mayo TDs claimed

LamportsEdge - 27th April 2012, 12:42 PM
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Her accountant must be some fornicator in fairness.

LamportsEdge - 27th April 2012, 12:44 PM
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Does it really cost a person from Mayo 46,000 euros a year to represent a constituency in the Dail? Or would this be a case of someone treating the allowance ceiling as a target and yelling 'bingo' when she cashes in?