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

I agree with Senator Ruane. Under the current provisions, the Government has created a system where the CEO cannot comment on Government policy in the public accounts committee or in any other committee. They are effectively curtailed from doing their job, which is to regulate and to challenge the Government. That is why the independence piece we have been banging on about for the duration of this debate is so important. They have to be able to challenge the Government.
We have a right, a responsibility and a constitutional role to play in this as parliamentarians, and this is stopping them from speaking to us. It is very unusual for this to be permitted. The CEO should be able to make an assessment, good or bad, on Government policy and decisions because they are there to provide expertise and guidance on the use of AI, and to protect citizens and their rights when it comes to AI. I find it extraordinary that the CEO would be gagged from providing evidence in our Oireachtas and Parliament, and that they are effectively not allowed to have opinions on Government policy. I really do not agree with this in any way and it is an awful precedent to set.

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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