Malcolm Byrne (Wicklow-Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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1753. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development 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. [1587/25]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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My Department follows the current advice from the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) as set out in “Cyber Security Guidance on Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Public Sector Bodies” published on 1 June 2023. All staff in the Department have been informed of the Department's position on this issue.

Training has not been provided to staff on the use of AI. I can confirm that AI, including large language modelling, is not used in the preparation of primary legislation or statutory instruments.

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