Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Okay. The Government has had the AI advisory council in situ since 2024.

I thank everybody for their contributions. They were very thought-out and passionate. I am on all sides because AI can be groundbreaking and has huge potential for the country. There is nobody in this Chamber who is uncaring or inconsiderate where climate and global effects are concerned. We will do it in a green way. That is what we have to do. We have got to get the balance right.

I emphasise that a key part of ensuring AI is widely adopted in the economy and in society more broadly is building public trust. Having such trust was a theme that came through today. It is at the heart of our national AI strategy. The Government has prioritised putting in place the appropriate governance mechanisms or guardrails to ensure AI is used responsibly in Ireland. Responsible use is another important aspect everybody has raised in this debate. However, it is also important there is a strong ecosystem of independent sources of expertise who will participate in building an evidence-based understanding of AI among the public.

Speaking of independent sources of expertise, this brings me to the AI advisory council. I had the opportunity to speak to Dr. Patricia Scanlon and several members of the Government’s AI advisory council with the Minister, Deputy Burke, last week. These are incredibly bright, smart people who are advising the Department and the Government at a very high level. They have presented a paper to the incoming Government that I will review and consider. We had a very good discussion and all of them are giving their time and services for free. That must be acknowledged too. Their advice paper outlines key opportunities and strategic policy recommendations to accelerate AI adoption in Ireland while safeguarding our economy, our competitiveness, our workforce and our society. The paper examines six critical areas, including the future of skills and work; the development of a robust AI ecosystem; enhancements in AI literacy and education, which Deputy McAuliffe spoke about; strategies in AI sovereignty and infrastructure; the responsibility of using biometrics in public services; and the transformative impact of AI on Ireland’s creative sector. As someone who came through the NCAD, I am very mindful of where this leaves artists and intellectual property in the creative industries that are out there. It must be a very difficult time as we make our way through this. The report will be considered by the relevant Government Departments over the coming weeks. The council has given freely of its time and advice and it is very much appreciated by me and all my colleagues in the Dáil, I am sure.

A number of AI advisory council members were in Paris last week at the AI Action Summit, which was hosted by President Macron and attended by the Taoiseach. There was much talk and coverage of the EU approach to regulation at the Paris summit. From Ireland’s perspective, the closest possible regulatory convergence between the EU and the US on AI and digital technologies is in our interest. This includes advancing a transatlantic digital marketplace as set out in the Draghi report. Ensuring that Ireland’s voice is heard in international forums on the governance of AI and that Ireland is a leader in the implementation of the EU AI Act are key elements of our focus. Ireland is a trustworthy voice for small economies and a constructive international partner in international AI discussions at a time when there are risks to the rules-based order. We intend to emphasise this through our role as a guest country at the G20 in 2025, at the invitation of South Africa.

The Government strongly supports the commitment in the European Commission’s competitive compass to "simpler, lighter, faster”. This will ensure EU regulation is fit for competitiveness. In keeping with the EU approach, the new programme for Government commits to “Simplify and modernise our regulatory framework to ensure Ireland remains competitive within the EU and globally, facilitating continued investment”. That is really important. We will update the National Digital Strategy to bring together digital policy and regulatory responsibilities and to invest to make Ireland an EU centre of expertise in digital and data regulation and a regulatory hub for companies operating across the EU Digital Single Market. With 15 of the 25 very large online platforms and search engines under the Digital Services Act established in Ireland, it is and was a priority for the Government to put in place a well resourced and efficient digital services co-ordinator in Coimisiún na Meán. Ireland will deliver an equally well resourced and efficient implementation of the EU AI Act to provide certainty and transparency along the AI supply chain. Ireland recognises that general purpose AI, GPAI, models are the engines of AI innovation and is working through the European Artificial Intelligence Board and bilaterally with the European Commission’s AI office to ensure the EU remains competitive for GPAI investment and innovation.

I will conclude on a note of empowerment. This technology is developing rapidly but it is not something we can allow to happen passively, as I said in my earlier remarks. It is not for other people like technologists and computer scientists, but for us all to educate ourselves and to understand what technology transition means. The choices made by people, government, businesses, researchers, workers and the elected representatives in this House will determine its future. We are all responsible for AI. I will ask my Department to try to bring the CeADAR scheme, which is available to everybody, into the Houses of the Oireachtas to make it accessible for Members to bring themselves up to speed as much as possible. We will ensure AI continues to play a positive role in the world by improving our lives and creating a better future for generations to come. As I said, AI is here to stay, it is here for good and we have to embrace it but also recognise the challenges.

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