Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

There is constant engagement. The negotiation of the AI Act took place over a two-year period and ended with the adoption of the AI Act in March 2024. Ireland played an active and constructive role in the development of the AI Act to ensure its alignment with the Government's commitment to human rights and ethical considerations. The Department represents Ireland on the EU artificial intelligence board and has ensured appropriate, qualified participation across the system of each of the ten thematic subgroups established by the EU AI Act.

In essence, there has been constant engagement in recent years and that continues to be the case. My officials are regularly in Brussels to ensure we are on the same page because the last thing we want is a fragmented approach where each member state is doing something different. We want a co-ordinated approach under the EU AI Act and to ensure we have that co-ordinated approach.