Malcolm Byrne (Wicklow-Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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1111. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine 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. [1574/25]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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My Department has an Artificial Intelligence (AI) policy in place. The AI policy has been communicated to all staff. My Department continues to comply with guidance provided by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) on the use of and application of AI, including Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI). Training on the use of AI is in development and will be provided to staff in due course.

The use of AI including large language models has not been approved for use in the preparation of legislation or statutory instruments. Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) is currently blocked from use within the Department, precluding it's use in business activities.

As regards the 13 State Bodies under the aegis of my Department, the information requested is an operational matter for the State Bodies themselves. I have referred the Deputy’s question to the Agencies and have requested that a response should issue within 10 days.