Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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858. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if her Department has a policy, or has issued guidance to staff on the use of artificial intelligence, large language model, natural language processing, generative or otherwise, or products based thereon in the course of their duties; if this has been communicated to staff; if she will publish same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36147/24]

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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859. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if her Department, or any agency under her auspices, has ever used any artificial intelligence software in the preparation of response to parliamentary questions, or in responses to any correspondence from outside the organisation; the details of same if applicable; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36166/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 858 and 859 together.

Artificial Intelligence tools are not currently used in my Department for drafting Dáil speeches, responding to Parliamentary Questions or replying to external correspondence. All staff in the Department have been informed of the Department's position on this issue.

The overall position in relation to the use of artificial intelligence is that my Department follows the current advice from the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) as set out in “Cyber Security Guidance on Generative AI for Public Sector Bodies” published on 1 June 2023.

There are 4 agencies under the aegis of my Department: Pobal, The Charities Regulatory Authority, Water Safety Ireland, and the Western Development Commission. Strategic and operational governance, including the adoption or otherwise of generative artificial intelligence tools are a matter for the bodies concerned. As independent legal entities, such bodies are responsible for managing their own corporate affairs in compliance with statutory obligations.