Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)

It is a challenge. Having engaged quite a bit with my officials at this point, Ireland is probably ahead of the other 26 member states, in having everything in place to enact the legislation and to ensure that we have the enforcement element ready to do the policing of AI across the board. This is not to say that it is not challenging; of course it is. I know that the officials in the Department have their sleeves rolled up and are working might and main to ensure that we are in a good position.

There is a huge amount of expertise available. When the national AI office is established, there will be huge interest in it. The AI Advisory Council, which appeared before the committee last week, has also suggested the AI observatory. This is critical to enable us to predict AI trends and how that will impact jobs into the future.

For our first deadline in August 2025, our main objectives are: to designate the market surveillance authorities, when the Government has decided who they are; to notify the EU Commission on a single point of contact, a one-stop shop that they can go to. I am in the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Trade, and I am sure all of us have areas of particular interest, whether it be education or justice, this particular unit has a focus on SMEs but is engaging with all Departments across the board to ensure that we are not pigeonholed. I do not think we can be; we have to be much broader than that. The final goal for August 2025 is to report to the Commission the capacity and capability of the financial and human resources of the market surveillance authorities. There are three very clear deadlines for August 2025, with the enforcement element to begin in 2026. I hope that answers the Deputy's question.