Malcolm Byrne (Wicklow-Wexford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Taoiseach for his personal interest in the subject and in the potential and opportunities that artificial intelligence presents in so many aspects of Irish life. The fact that there are references to AI and digitalisation within the programme for Government including, as the Taoiseach referenced, the improvements to public services, means it is going to be critical.

Our challenge, as the point was made, is how we govern the roll-out of this new technology, not just at a national or European level but, indeed, globally because technology like this is going to be transnational. The Taoiseach is correct that the concepts of regulation and innovation are not mutually exclusive. It is about getting the appropriate balance right.

The EU AI Act, while not perfect, is certainly a very good start. However, how does the Taoiseach envisage on a global level us ensuring the kinds of principles that are laid out in the AI Act, and, as he mentioned, how we defend human rights, the rule of law and our democratic values in the roll-out of this new technology, both to avoid a small number of individuals controlling technology companies setting the agenda and the misuse of AI? We have seen, for instance, in China social credit scoring by the Chinese Communist Party, the Israel Defense Forces using particular technologies in Palestine and, indeed, Iran using AI to discriminate against women with its hijab law. From an EU and an Irish perspective, we have certainly made a very good start, but it is important for Ireland to play a lead in setting out the basis on which we use this new technology globally.

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