Malcolm Byrne (Wicklow-Wexford, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

362. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment whether he intends to attend the Artificial Intelligence Action Summit in Paris on 10 and 11 February 2025; the level of Government representation planned; and the priorities for Ireland at that summit [2572/25]

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Taoiseach has been invited by President Macron to attend an AI Action Summit taking place in Paris next week on 10/11 February, along with many other Heads of State and Government.

Ireland’s priorities at the Summit will be consistent with those set out in the refresh of Ireland’s National AI Strategy, "AI – Here for Good" which was published in November 2024. Building public trust is a large part of our approach. We are implementing the regulatory structure to provide for the supervision and enforcement of the EU AI Act in Ireland. We fully support putting in place the guardrails for trustworthy, human centred AI in the European Union. This will protect individuals’ safety and fundamental rights while continuing to promote and encourage innovation.

This Summit will be a useful opportunity to exchange views with political leaders from around the globe, as well as the private sector, the research community and civil society groups on the approach to these technologies in different parts of the world, and to discuss where further international collaboration is needed to build on our ongoing engagements at the EU, the OECD and in the United Nations system.

I understand that some members of the Government’s AI Advisory Council will also be attending the Summit.

Ireland is committed to the use and promotion of responsible AI for the good of society and the economy. We have made huge strides in putting the foundations in place under our National AI Strategy, and work continues to ensure that we remain at the forefront of future change and innovation. The use and application of AI technology has great potential to help solve challenges in healthcare, scientific discovery, sustainability, agriculture, transport, and mobility.

I firmly believe in the opportunities that AI technologies present for our collective and global benefit, if we develop and deploy them in a way that is responsible and person-centred.