Sinéad Gibney (Dublin Rathdown, Social Democrats)
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190. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the staffing resources in the AI office that will be allocated to the office's planned regulatory function, in comparison to the other functions of the office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54213/25]

Sinéad Gibney (Dublin Rathdown, Social Democrats)
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191. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the level of staffing resources being allocated to the new AI office, by grade; whether there is a timeline for filling those roles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54214/25]

Sinéad Gibney (Dublin Rathdown, Social Democrats)
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192. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the steps being taken to create the necessary independence in regulatory functions of the new AI office under article 70 of the EU AI Act; the way in which the work of staff tasked with regulatory functions is being separated from those with functions to do with promoting business; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54215/25]

Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 190, 191 and 192 together.

The Government is committed to ensuring that Ireland is a leader in the digital economy and responsible artificial intelligence.

As the Deputy is aware the Government has adopted a distributed model for the implementation of the AI Act in Ireland building on the sectoral capacity and capability within our regulatory ecosystem. In doing so there is a need for the effective coordination and coherence of the implementation of the Act. This is why the Government has agreed to establish the AI Office of Ireland to act as the central coordinating body. The office will also provide a focal point for the promotion and adoption of transparent and safe AI in Ireland, to ensure that we fully capture the strategic opportunity that AI presents.

The AI Office of Ireland will coordinate the activities of designated Market Surveillance Authorities (MSAs) and Notifying Authorities, promoting efficiency and coherence across regulatory domains. This model aligns regulatory functions with existing sectoral responsibilities and enables the AI Office to facilitate cooperation across the regulators. The central co-ordinating body will be a resource to and work closely with all of the relevant competent authorities.

Currently, my officials, in collaboration with government departments across a range of sectors, are developing the General Scheme of the Regulation of Artificial Intelligence. This General Scheme will provide for the implementation and enforcement of the AI Act at national level in domestic legislation. This includes the establishment of the new AI Office of Ireland as an independent statutory entity, the empowerment of designated competent authorities with Market Surveillance Regulation powers pursuant to the AI Act and provisions for cooperation and sharing of information across the national competent authorities, and the laying down of rules for penalties and other enforcement measures for non-compliance. It is my intention to bring this General scheme to Government within the coming weeks.

My Department is engaging with professional consultancy services, who are providing advice onto the scale and operational structure of this new AI Office of Ireland informed by national and international benchmarking.

I am committed to ensuring Ireland’s position and as a centre of regulatory excellence where innovation thrives for the betterment of the economy and society at large.

Sinéad Gibney (Dublin Rathdown, Social Democrats)
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193. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment whether his Department is using the services of consultancy firms in setting up the new AI office; and if so, the amount spent on fees to consultancy firms to date. [54216/25]

Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The establishment of the AI Office of Ireland is a strategic initiative for my Department to act as the central co-ordinating body for the AI Act and provide a focal point for the promotion and adoption of transparent and safe AI in Ireland, to ensure that we fully capture the strategic opportunity that AI presents.

Detailed workplans are being developed to ensure the AI Office is in place by August 2026. The establishment of a new AI office is a discrete project which requires some specialist expertise to augment the skills and expertise available in the Department. Accordingly, where specialised knowledge is required, research and analysis has been commissioned which is informing the work of my officials. To date consultancy services to a value of €60,000 excluding VAT has been awarded.

Sinéad Gibney (Dublin Rathdown, Social Democrats)
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194. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the way in which the public sector duty is being integrated into the work of the new AI office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54217/25]

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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The Guidelines for the Responsible Use of Artificial Intelligence in the Public Service have been developed to actively empower public servants to use Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the delivery of services. The purpose of these guidelines is to provide practical information and resources for all public servants and Government officials on how to design, develop, deploy and maintain AI solutions responsibly

The AI Office of Ireland in its operations as a statutory independent body will have regard to the Guidelines on the Responsible use of AI for the Public Service, which will ensure consistency with existing public service standards.