Sinéad Gibney (Dublin Rathdown, Social Democrats)
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966. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment in the context of proposals for an AI observatory and the clear impact of AI on the employment market demonstrated in independent research, the concrete actions he will take to pre-empt and mitigate the displacement of labour by AI, particularly in more lucrative industries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43889/25]

Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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I am aware of the concerns and recent media coverage on the potential impact of Artificial Intelligence on Irish jobs. That is understandable. Much of the independent research available to date indicates that AI has been augmenting rather than replacing jobs. Our priority is to ensure that the use of AI empowers workers. Of course there with be changes, but we are agile and we can adopt.

AI is evolving rapidly, and it is too early to predict with accuracy the full impact that AI will have on the labour market, but what is clear is that the structure of work will change and new types of jobs will emerge. To address this, and as outlined in the National AI Strategy Refresh 2024, we are investing in AI education, skills, and talent development with a focus on upskilling and reskilling workers to meet the demand for evolving job roles. This isn’t just an investment in people, it is an investment in competitiveness and in the future of a business. Enterprises will need to be proactive in upskilling their workforce to develop the AI skills and knowledge necessary to leverage the technology.

I agree with the AI Advisory Council that an Irish AI Observatory would greatly assist government to develop and implement national AI priorities, including jobs policy, in the years ahead. An AI Observatory could deliver invaluable real-time data and insights on a wide range of AI metrics in Ireland, including labour market dynamics and skills needs. It is planned to include this in the Action Plan on Competitiveness and Productivity which is currently being developed.

My Department has also commissioned research, along with the ESRI and National Competitiveness and Productivity Council, on the potential impacts of AI on key sectors of the Irish economy. We will report on the results of the research later this year.

We will continue to engage with key stakeholders, including the National Economic and Social Council and the Labour Employer Economic Forum, to ensure a fair transition of the world of work.

Harnessing the benefits of AI is essential for Ireland to future-proof our industries and remain globally competitive.