Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 21 January 2026
230. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if any website or other platform operated by his Department uses an AI-enabled chatbot; if there are plans to use chatbots; in what circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4827/26]
View answerThere are currently no websites or platforms operated by my Department that use an AI-enabled chatbot. My Department is planning to conduct a proof-of-concept project with an AI-enabled chatbot to assess the benefit of this technology for Department users. All current and future AI use cases are subject to human review, data protection and governance measures. My department is committed to ensuring that any use of AI is informed by an assessment of any potential human rights and equality implications, with a need for careful management in accordance with privacy and broader ethical and legal frameworks. For operational and security reasons, my Department has been advised by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) not to disclose details which could, in any way, identify potential vulnerabilities in Departmental Cyber security arrangements.
