Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Tógfaidh mé Ceisteanna Uimh. 8 agus 12 le chéile.

Chun tacaíocht a thabhairt don straitéis náisiúnta um intleacht shaorga, táim ag moladh go mbunófar comhairle um intleacht shaorga.

It is proposed that the AI advisory council will provide independent expert guidance to the Government on AI policy, with a specific focus on building public trust and promoting the development of trustworthy, person-centred AI. Its first role will be providing expert guidance, insights and recommendations in response to specific requests from the Government. Its second role will be developing and delivering its own work plan of advice to the Government on issues relating to AI policy and providing insights on trends, opportunities and challenges. Its third role will be engaging in public communications aimed at demystifying and promoting trustworthy, ethical and person-centred AI.

The AI advisory council will be a mechanism for expert advice. It will not be a consultative or representative forum. Therefore, its members will represent themselves as individuals with relevant experience and expertise and not their employers or organisations of which they may be members. Since we asked for applications, we have received several hundred expressions of interest, which is a testament to the level of expertise in this overall area that Ireland enjoys. We are currently processing all the expressions of interest with a view to making announcements in the coming weeks.

The establishment of the council will further support the implementation of what is recommended in National AI strategy: AI – Here for Good. I published a progress report on this national strategy in August . It highlighted many of the achievements so far, including: the appointment of an AI ambassador, Dr. Patricia Scanlon, and the completion of her first year in the role; the establishment of an enterprise digital advisory forum; publishing, along with the Minister of State, Deputy Richmond, the National Standards Authority of Ireland's AI Standards & Assurance Roadmap; and the establishment of Ireland's European digital innovation hub for AI, CeADAR.

Priorities for the year ahead include supporting businesses, enterprise and workers with AI adoption, as well as upskilling, reskilling and adapting. The AI innovation hub will have a key role in this space. My Department will work closely with the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform on principles and guidelines for the use of AI in the public sector. Regulation is an enormous part of our approach, and influencing the regulation of AI in Ireland and internationally, particularly the development of the EU AI Act, is another of my priorities. The EU AI Act sets out harmonised rules for the development, placement on the market and use of AI systems within the Union. The proposed regulation aims to ensure the protection of fundamental rights and user safety, as well as trust in the development and uptake of AI, thereby enhancing EU investment and innovation.

My officials are also actively involved in negotiations on the Council of Europe legal convention on AI. Together, the work of the EU and Council of Europe are guardrails that will ensure trust in AI and in turn support ongoing, responsible innovation in this area.

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