Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Comhghairdeas to the Minister of State. I wish her the best of luck in her new role. I also congratulate the Minister, Deputy Calleary, for the work he has done in this area. I know the Minister of State will acknowledge that we are still behind the curve. I welcome some of the initiatives she has put forward and made us aware of today. I would also like a copy of her speech. It is very important that we all work together on this. It is a huge challenge but also a huge opportunity for us. In respect of the Oireachtas and how we could use AI ourselves, can the Minister of State ensure we are not blocked from using it in any way? Can this be facilitated? We all need to be up to speed on how it works, what it can do and how we can access training courses online if we need to do so. If our technology prevents us from doing that, this is a barrier. It is incumbent on the Irish Government to explore strategies for maximising the potential of artificial intelligence to benefit businesses, the economy and society at large, as the Minister of State has said.

The Irish Council for Civil Liberties has recommended that Ireland should establish an advisory forum consisting of civil society organisations with fundamental rights and expertise in trade unions, as well as people who are often at the receiving end of AI deployment, such as teachers, artists and actors. Has the Government taken this on board?

AI has transformative potential but to truly harness it for the greater good, its integration must be thoughtfully managed, equitably distributed and aligned with broader social goals. It is imperative that this Government builds up in-house expertise on AI. Otherwise we will be exposed to external influences, sometimes with contrary agendas. We talk all the time about the damage that has been done in contracting out. The Minister of State has probably read The Big Con: How the Consulting Industry Weakens our Businesses, Infantilizes our Governments and Warps our Economies, which is about how we have contracted out so much decision making and expertise that used to be within Government but no longer is there. AI is an area where we really need to build up expertise. Have we initiated a recruitment drive to get the brightest and the best to work for Government in maximising opportunities and mitigating risks involved with AI? That is really important.

I also have a question about access to the national training fund and the great mystery of where this fund is - I think it is about €1.5 billion - and how we can tap into that. Will the Minister of State find out whether the national training fund can be used because I can think of no better area than this one to make a major investment into AI so that we are ahead of the curve? Will she come back to us on that because it seems to have eluded us all for many years? I do not think it is fair that businesses are contributing to the national training fund and building it up when they cannot get access to it. It is important that it be made accessible to businesses and for training.

AI technologies such as automation, predictive analytics and machine learning can streamline business operations and reduce costs. We need to very much enable that when we talk about the geopolitical situation and the threats to businesses. We must be able to facilitate business to be able to access things and we must be mindful of smaller businesses that do not have time. I have just met with the Small Firms Association. Let us not make it complicated, let us get rid of bureaucracy and let us make it accessible to businesses that are already time-poor and are struggling to survive.

AI also enables more precise decision making through data analysis and helping organisations to spot trends, forecast demand and optimise inventory management. There are significant possibilities. AI has significant potential to transform businesses and drive economic growth and it is awfully important that this be done on an all-island basis. Let us do this to enable all of our island to prosper regardless of whatever tradition one is - IBEC operates on an all-island basis as does Tourism Ireland - to enhance prosperity and equality of opportunity across the island. I have a lot more to say on AI but my time is up.

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