Regulation of Artificial Intelligence Bill 2026: Committee Stage
Seanad Éireann — 2026-07-09
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Patricia Stephenson (SD), Labour Panel

I move amendment No. 27:
In page 22, to delete lines 25 to 30.
Amendment No. 27 seeks to remove the part, as I have mentioned, that allows the Minister to appoint the first CEO and for them to have a full five-year term. I do not agree with that and I have said it before. I do not think it provides good governance. I do not think it provides the correct independence from the Department as is needed.
If someone is the direct line manager, effectively, in appointing someone who is supposed to provide guidance but also provide a critique on policy decisions that are being made, what are the power dynamics within that which would allow someone to do their job independently? I know the Minister of State is not going to accept the amendment. However, along with all the other amendments, it is about seeking good governance and good structures.
Amendment No. 32 mirrors the language in the section on the board being removed in the case of conflicts of interest. The Bill currently contains conflict of interest provisions for the board members, but not for the CEO. That seems like a mistake. I do not know why we would not have this consistent across both.
Amendment No. 34 seeks to ensure that a statement is laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas as soon as is practicable, which reflects the language of the IHREC Act. Instead of going through the Minister for the report, the report would come straight to the Houses of the Oireachtas. This emphasises, once again, the independence of the office. We do not believe it should be in the Minister’s gift to deliver that report to us should he or she wish.

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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