Laura Harmon (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for her opening statement and the officials for being here. Like many of us, I am learning more about AI and doing research in my own time. I have major concerns about AI and feel we need to explore the concept of more public ownership as an alternative to the corporately owned models in existence. Our social media need to be brought more into the public sphere to enable us to have more control over them. The algorithms are making society more polarised. Ultimately, the algorithms are like news desks whose editorial decisions are made behind closed doors. That is a major concern I have about AI in general and the amount of scope it has to influence not just business marketing, but also politics and people’s political views.

I have several questions, just to have more clarity. With regard to rights protections in Ireland, nine public authorities have been designated to have oversight. My understanding is that a lead regulator will be designated. Could the Minister of State expand on that, the plans that exist, the exact powers the nine authorities will have and what they will be expected to do? Has the national AI Act implementation committee been meeting regularly? I want more clarity on this.