Malcolm Byrne (Wicklow-Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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697. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if her Department and agencies under the aegis of her 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 her Department has used AI, including large language models, in the preparation of legislation or statutory instruments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1590/25]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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My Department is guided by relevant legislation, policies and the National Cyber Security Centre in respect of all matters related to the use or operation of AI. All applications and platforms used or operated by my Department must be in line with relevant policies and be consistent with advice provided by the National Cyber Security Centre. The use of AI by bodies under the aegis of the Department would be an operational matter for the respective body.

The EU Artificial Intelligence (AI) Act, which recently entered into force on 01 August 2024 has direct effect in all Member States. Future central Government guidance supporting the implementation of the Act, policies and cross-government engagement will continue to inform the Department’s approach to the use of AI. The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment is the lead Department for Government policy in relation to AI and its National Artificial Intelligence Strategy, AI Here for Good (refreshed in November 2024), sets out the ambition for Ireland to be an international leader in using AI to benefit our economy and society, through a people-centred, ethical approach to its development, adoption and use.