Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The National AI Strategy, AI – Here for Good, sets out how Ireland can be an international leader in the use of Artificial Intelligence to benefit our economy and society. The Strategy takes a people-centred, ethical approach to the development, adoption and use of AI. My Department is leading on the implementation of the Strategy and is responsible for driving the adoption of AI by businesses.

The Strategy outlines the need for a robust governance framework to safeguard against risk and to underpin public trust in AI, and in this context, my Department and the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer established and jointly chair a Working Group on Trustworthy AI Principles and Guidelines. The Working Group is tasked with developing Principles and Guidelines for the ethical and human-centric use of AI in the public sector.

The Working Group consists of a number of AI experts and representatives of Government Departments which may have the capacity to use AI tools in their functions. Work on the principles is almost complete, and an expert ‘researcher in residence’ within the OGCIO on an SFI Fellowship programme will be tasked to work with this group to further develop the principles in order to promulgate ethical and human-centric AI in the public sector.

The Working Group has met twice and a draft document has been developed which was considered by the Working Group in March 2023. Work will continue to progress this document. The recommendations of the Group to be brought to Government for consideration as soon as possible and, subject to Government approval, these principles will be part of the decision-making process for the adoption and use of AI in the Public Service.