Malcolm Byrne (Wicklow-Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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342. To ask the Minister for Finance if his Department and agencies under the aegis of his Department have policies on the use of artificial intelligence, AI, within the Department and those agencies; whether training has been provided to staff on the use of AI; if his Department has used AI, including large language models, in the preparation of legislation or statutory instruments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1580/25]

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I can confirm for the Deputy that the Government approved Interim Guidelines for the Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the Public Service in January 2024. This was circulated to all staff within my department. These guidelines established that AI tools used in the civil and public service must comply with seven key requirements for ethical AI.

My department follows advice from the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) released in June 2023. This advice set forth not to use GenAI to generate responses to correspondence such as Parliamentary Questions or public representations; nor to rely on GenAI to assist in designing or drafting Government policy. The NCSC guidance also recommended that new technology should only be adopted based on a clearly defined business need following an appropriate risk assessment. My department is not providing training in AI for staff at this time, however it will be considered during the year.

The bodies under the aegis of my department have advised as follows:

The Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General (The Office) has put in place guidelines on the use of AI. These guidelines were approved by its Management Board in April 2024. The guidelines aim to establish ethical and responsible principles for the development and use of AI tools within the Office. They align with the Interim Guidelines for use of AI, published by the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform (DPENDR) in January 2024. The Office does not currently use AI tools for the performance of its functions.

The Financial Services & Pensions Ombudsman (FSPO) is currently preparing an organisational AI Policy, and continues to follow the guidance of the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC). It does not currently use AI for mission critical services, and it is not currently used in relation to consumer data or individual cases. The internal IT team are undertaking training in AI skills in preparation for appropriate application across the business as opportunities emerge.

The Irish Fiscal Advisory Council is not engaged in the drafting of legislation or statutory instruments. While it has been involved in discussions around draft wording for proposed amendments to the Fiscal Responsibility Act, it has not used artificial intelligence (AI) in this respect. Its Secretariat have undergone internal training on the use of AI. The Fiscal Council pays for use of a specific software suite that includes AI. This software ensures that it does not use data in a way that it can be disclosed or used in training of the AI tool itself.

The National Treasury Management Agency’s (NTMA) approach to the use of AI aligns with the advice of the DPENDR Interim Guidelines for Use of AI in the Public Service (January 2024) and the National Cyber Security Centre (Cyber Security Guidance on Generative AI for Public Sector Bodies, June 2023). Communications have been issued to staff on the use of Generative AI/AI within the NTMA which align to the Interim Guidelines for Use of AI in the Public Service. The NTMA has incorporated guidance for use of Generative AI into an ICT Security Policy whilst a Generative AI Governance Framework for the adoption of third-party Generative AI products/services has also been implemented.

The Office of the Revenue Commissioners (Revenue) has a long track record of harnessing technology and innovation to deliver on its mission. Revenue has very strong policies and governance in place covering the use of all ICT technology and this includes the use of AI. In 2024, Revenue introduced an AI assistant (RevAssist) which is available to all Revenue staff to simplify and expedite access to the information contained in its Tax and Duty Manuals and Taxes Consolidation Act Notes for Guidance. This AI system was developed in adherence with the EU AI Act and the Government’s Interim Guidelines for the Use of AI in the Public Service, published in January 2024. Expanded Revenue AI training will be introduced from February for all staff. AI tools are not used to draft legislation.

The remaining bodies under the aegis of my department have advised that they have never used AI software in the preparation of legislation or statutory instruments.