Report of the Joint Committee on Artificial Intelligence: Motion
Dail Éireann — 2026-02-26
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Niamh Smyth (FF), Cavan-Monaghan

In November 2024 the Government designated a list of national public bodies that protect fundamental rights. We need to just keep that in our minds. These are nine national bodies to protect fundamental rights, including the right to non-discrimination in relation to certain high-risk uses of AI systems specific to the AI Act. In addition, once established the national AI office of Ireland will engage and consult with a broad range of stakeholders across civic society, including the representative bodies most affected by AI systems. Deputy Gibney made the point about having the balance. That is critically important. It was alluded to in opening comments that we have a shared focus on getting the balance right and that it is not just about innovation. It is about our citizens as well.
Taken together these measures provide Ireland with a structured, expert, informed and citizen-focused system on our approach to artificial intelligence policies and ethics. I also want to assure Members of the independence of the new AI office. While Deputy Gibney has a concern about it coming from the Department of enterprise, as was quite rightly said, when that new CEO is appointed that is where it will be led from and that will show us the pathway for where AI will be in a much broader sense. While it is established by the Department of enterprise I think that any anybody coming in who gets that position will have to ensure they have that much broader view of the world when we are talking about AI.
I also want to assure Members of the independence of the AI office. The general scheme of the regulation of artificial intelligence Bill 2026 was approved for priority drafting at the Government meeting on 13 January 2026. The guiding principles are that the AI office of Ireland must be independent in structure in order to oversee the governance and co-ordination of the national roll out and ongoing supervision and enforcement of the EU AI Act, ensuring that all relevant authorities and stakeholders are aligned with its interpretation and the application of the regulations.
A separate issue, which I know is on people's minds, is the potential impact of job displacement. AI is a disruptive technology and I completely understand concerns regarding the impact of AI on the labour market. While AI will undoubtedly create new opportunities it also carries risks of job displacement. Recent research from the expert group on future skills needs reports that Ireland's enterprise sector and workforce are adapting rapidly to AI, with strong demand for AI skills matched by solid supply. While the report finds that AI is likely to augment many existing roles it also notes that the overall impact on employment levels is less clearcut and that continued monitoring is essential. What is clear is that the structure of work will continue to change and new types of jobs will emerge. Digital Ireland outlines actions to support workers to navigate and mitigate the impacts of potential job displacement, including through agile, responsive and accessible skills' supports. The new national skills observatory and the observatory for business AI readiness will play an important role in shaping future enterprises and employment policies, as well as directing targeted investment in upskilling and reskilling, ensuring that our workforce is supported and ready to adapt as these roles evolve.
Finally, I want to emphasise that while artificial intelligence should drive innovation it must also be fair, inclusive and trustworthy. This is why when implementing our new strategy the Government will work hand in hand with businesses, experts and most importantly our citizens. Our ambition is straightforward, which is to create a country where AI and digital innovation genuinely improve people's lives and contribute to a fair, resilient and future-focused economy and society.
I thank the Acting Chair for her latitude.

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Source: Houses of the Oireachtas. Licensed under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). The Official Report is revised after first publication; the fetch timestamp below identifies the version quoted.

Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-02-26/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:42+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-02-26