Albert Dolan (Galway East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Artificial intelligence is not something coming down the tracks; it is already here. We are shaping how we do business, how our economy functions and how we interact as a society. The question is not whether we adopt AI but how we harness its potential for the greater good, ensuring that the risks are properly managed. In business and the economy, AI has the power to transform industries, improve productivity and create new opportunities. For Irish businesses, whether it is a global tech company in Dublin or a small enterprise in rural Galway, AI can automate routine tasks, drive efficiency and open up new possibilities for growth. If we embrace AI in the right way, it will not replace but will enhance jobs, freeing up people to focus on innovation and higher value work. To make this happen, however, we need the right supports in place. Small and medium-sized businesses must have access to funding, training and clear guidance to ensure they can adopt AI effectively rather than being left behind.

AI also has huge potential to improve society. In healthcare, it is already helping to diagnose illnesses earlier and improve patient care. In education, it can support personalised learning, making sure every student gets the help they need. In agriculture, AI can assist farmers in making better decisions, improving efficiency while reducing environmental impact. These are real, practical benefits that can improve people's lives if we use AI in the right way.

Crucially, the Government must lead by example. Our public services are under immense pressure, there can be no doubt, and AI can help drive efficiencies that will improve service delivery for people across the country. AI-powered chatbots and automation could streamline application processes for everything from passport renewals to planning permission considerations. It could cut down waiting times and reduce backlogs. In healthcare, AI could assist with administrative tasks like appointment scheduling and patient triaging, freeing up our front-line staff to focus on patient care. Even in policing, AI could be used to analyse crime patterns, helping gardaí allocate resources more effectively where they are needed.

These are not futuristic ideas; they are real solutions that other countries are already adopting. We must not fall behind but we also have to be clear-eyed about the risks. AI can lead to job displacement, misinformation and concerns about privacy and bias. If we do not have the right regulations in place, we risk undermining the trust in this technology. That is why Ireland must take a proactive approach, working with our European partners to shape AI policy that fosters innovation while protecting workers, consumers and society as a whole.

AI is a tool, and how we use it is up to us. We have a real opportunity to shape its development in a way that benefits Irish businesses, strengthens our economy and improves public services, but we need to act now, making sure the right supports, safeguards and policies are in place. AI should work for us, not the other way around.

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