Regulation of Artificial Intelligence Bill 2026: Committee Stage
Seanad Éireann — 2026-07-09
============================================================

Aubrey McCarthy (IND), University of Dublin

I want to speak in support of amendment No. 9. It proposes that at least two members of the AI office board possess significant experience in AI development, commercialisation and digital innovation or, in other words, recognised industry representation. It is a modest but important amendment, and it strengthens the governance of the AI office and ensures that its decisions are informed by real-world experience.
The AI office will make decisions that will affect every business across every sector in the economy and it will shape how AI is regulated, guidance is issued and compliance is supported. For that reason, it is essential that the board includes members who understand how AI is developed, deployed and adopted in practice.
The amendment is not about representing specific sectional interests; it is about broadening expertise, industry experience and technical expertise that will hopefully lead to better-informed and more balanced decision-making. Recognised industry associations engage daily with businesses of all sizes, particularly SMEs, which I have spoken about many times in this House, and they understand the practical challenges we face when implementing new regulatory obligations or adopting emerging technologies. Including board members with such experience will ensure that the office's work is grounded in the realities of what we are experiencing in SMEs, not just in theory or policy.
Members with industry backgrounds can provide valuable insight into how codes of practice, guidance and regulatory initiatives will operate on the ground. They can also anticipate unintended consequences and ensure that regulatory measures are proportionate and workable in practice. That practical perspective will improve the quality, credibility and effectiveness of the office's output.
This proposal is entirely consistent with the principle that innovation and business adoption should remain central considerations alongside our regulatory objectives. It does not create an industry majority. It does not compromise the independence of the board. It simply ensures that business experience sits alongside other forms of expertise within a balanced governance structure. Good governance benefits from diversity of experience, and complex AI issues require perspectives from regulators, lawyers, academics and technologists who understand exactly how businesses deploy AI systems.
If the AI office is going to be effective, its board must reflect the breadth of Ireland's AI ecosystem. Including members with recognised industry experience will strengthen the office's credibility. It will improve engagement and it will also ensure that regulation remains practical, proportionate and also supportive of responsible innovation. That is what I hope to achieve with amendment No. 9.

---

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/seanad/2026-07-09/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:55:11+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-07-09