Malcolm Byrne (Wicklow-Wexford, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Minister of State for being here to address the question of a national office on artificial intelligence. It is very much within her brief. I welcome the commitments she has made to open a national office on artificial intelligence, establish an AI observatory in order that we will have evidence-based research on the social and economic impact and potential of and the opportunities presented by AI and host an AI summit during the course of Ireland's EU Presidency in the second half of next year.

The Minister of State is aware that the committee on artificial intelligence is very keen to have this AI office established. I have spoken to her about it several times. Our colleague Deputy Ó Cearúil has even brought forward legislation in this regard. It is critical that we get to know how the office will function. It is important in the long term that it is independent. In the early days following its establishment, it will require a lot of support from the Department.

I see it as having two main roles, which the Minister of State might outline further. There is the regulatory function, which will be to oversee the implementation and enforcement of the artificial intelligence Act. Equally, there is the information and support function, particularly for SMEs and small organisations, to enable them to innovate and support them in being able to avail of the potential of AI. There is also the element of how we can use AI in the public services for the more efficient and effective delivery of public services.

I would like to hear from the Minister of State how she envisages the governance structure of the national office on AI.

Will it be similar to some of the other regulators? It will need to be a body that has the respect of other regulatory bodies. It will obviously be critically important that the named bodies that have responsibility in this space liaise with the national office and that the national office will also identify where there are cracks in the system where data is being used so that it can take action. It is also important that the voices of children and young people are heard in establishing the office. I urge the setting up of a youth advisory panel similar to the youth advisory panel in Coimisiún na Meán, the media regulator. That is a good model. The Office of the Ombudsman for Children also has a youth advisory panel. Two representatives of that panel came before our committee this week. They were very effective and informed witnesses.

We should not underestimate the scale of the operation that will need to be established. I have looked at the national AI office in Spain. As the Minister of State knows, this was established two years ago in September 2023. There are many divisions within that office. It has departments for innovation; AI aimed at public administration; certification, instruction and supervision; trend identification and social impact; alignment and co-ordination; and awareness, training and promotion. As I have said, that is also critical because this cannot just be a department of "Thou shalt not" but must be a department of "Thou shall, this is how and this is how we are going to help you".

I welcome the Minister of State's announcement that we are proceeding with this office apace but, particularly as we are now implementing the AI Act, it is important that we hear from the Minister of State the detail of how this office will operate.

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