Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Progress Report on the National AI Strategy: AI – Here for Good has been finalised and it is expected to be considered by Government very shortly, after which it will be published. The Progress Report is the first since the publication of the National AI Strategy in July 2021 and shows that good headway has been made across all strands.

Key achievements under the Strategy include:

• The appointment in 2022 of Ireland’s first AI Ambassador, Dr Patricia Scanlon, who is leading a national conversation around AI and demystifying AI.
• Ireland continues to play an active part at EU level in discussions to define a horizontal regulatory framework for AI. The EU AI Act is expected to be finalised by early next year.
• Ireland has joined the OECD’s Global Partnership on AI(GPAI) and has been an active participant. The GPAI is an international initiative to promote responsible AI use that respects human rights and democratic values.
• A Top Team on AI standards, led by the NSAI have developed a Roadmap for AI Standards and Certification, which will be published in July.
• A National Youth Assembly on AIwas held to gather the views and attitudes of young people on this technology. The recommendations from that assembly have been published and a full report on the assembly is due in the coming weeks.
• The number of SFI “AI for societal good” challenge fundshave been expanded since the launch of the strategy.
• My Department established the Enterprise Digital Advisory Forumto advise on the uptake digital technology in enterprises, including AI.
• Ireland has designated CeADAR as its National AI Hub, as part of the broader programme of European Digital Innovation Hubs. CeADAR to act as a one-stop-shop for businesses and public sector organisations embarking on their AI journey.
• The Expert Group on Future Skills Needs published “AI Skills: A Preliminary assessment of the skills needed for the deployment, management and regulation of artificial intelligence,” a review of the skills implications of AIover the next five-to-ten years, as well as the skills-related actions needed to realise the potential of AI.
• Under Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fundcalls 1-5, 39 projects involving AI/machine learning/robotics have been awarded €131.7m.

The Government sees a huge opportunity from expected developments in AI technology in the next five years. We have been preparing for the next generation of AI for a number of years and have put good safeguards in place. We believe our strong innovation ecosystem, excellent and responsive skills infrastructure and commitment to ethical and human-centric AI position us well to benefit from the AI revolution, and importantly, to make sure that our workforce is well prepared.

As many of the foundational building blocks are now in place through the implementation of the AI Strategy, Ireland is now a strong and secure place for AI investment and our focus will move to driving the adoption of AI tools by the broader enterprise economy, as well as supporting the growth of AI companies.