Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 February 2026
444. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment his plans for the Artificial Intelligence Advisory Council; if it will be built into the governance structures of the National AI Office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14318/26]
View answerThe AI Advisory Council was established in January 2024 for an initial two-year term to provide independent expert advice to Government on AI policy, with a specific focus on building public trust and promoting trustworthy, person-centred AI.
Since its establishment the Council has provided advice to my Department on a number of policy areas related to AI. In February 2025 the Council submitted its report, 'Ireland’s AI Advisory Council Recommendations – Helping to Shape Ireland’s AI Future’ to Government. The comprehensive report outlines key opportunities and strategic policy recommendations aimed at accelerating AI adoption in Ireland while safeguarding the nation’s economy, competitiveness, workforce and society.
I would like to particularly thank members of the AI Council for their quick work in response to AI generated non-consensual intimate imagery and child sex abuse material (CSAM). Several of their recommendations are now being advanced by my Department, including their recommendation to work with the other EU member states and encourage the amendment of Article 5 of the AI Act pursuant to the Article 112(1) mechanism, in order to prohibit AI practices which permit users to generate non-consensual intimate images and CSAM.
Council members have also participated in hundreds of public engagements helping to demystify AI technology.
The work of the Council is of a part-time nature, and its members offer their time and expertise voluntarily in the public interest, which I greatly value.
Since the Council’s inception, significant progress has been made across the AI ecosystem in Ireland. In particular, work is well underway to establish the new AI Office of Ireland.
The establishment of the AI Office of Ireland provides an opportunity to put a permanent source of independent expertise on AI in place for the Government, superseding the part-time and voluntary model of the AI Advisory Council. This was communicated to members by the Department at the end of last year.
It will be the central co-ordinating body for the implementation of the EU AI Act in Ireland and will leverage the expertise of regulators across all sectors to ensure that when AI is deployed it is done so in a responsible and ethical manner.
It is planned that a Board of the AI Office of Ireland will be established which will be responsible for the governance and oversight of the Office. Suitably qualified members will be appointed to the Board, drawing on the expertise of the Public Appointments Service.
