Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 13 May 2026
77. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the protections the State will put in place for workers who are losing their jobs and being replaced with artificial intelligence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35747/26]
View answerArtificial Intelligence is a transformative technology with major potential for Ireland’s economy and society. Harnessing its benefits is essential to future-proof industries and maintain global competitiveness.
I understand there is concern and uncertainty out there in relation to AI’s impact on the labour market. Our recently published Digital & AI Strategy sets out our ambition to seize the AI opportunity, but it is equally important that we understand how it will change our labour market and equip people for this change. There are several ways in which we are working to do so.
My Department is continually monitoring the impact of AI on Ireland’s labour market.
Through the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs, we published research last year which found Ireland leads on AI job demand and has strong AI talent supply. This is encouraging. Later this year they'll publish a forward-looking skills study to 2030. An extensive, all-island study currently being worked on with UCD will include work on AI and the labour market. That evidence base will feed directly into policy.
It is clear that given the rapid advancement of AI technology the development of new capabilities and capacities in the workforce will be necessary, as it is very likely that new types of jobs will emerge.
The recently published ESRI and the Department of Finance’s recent report, Artificial Intelligence and Income Inequality in Ireland, underlines that forward looking government policy, particularly focused on lifelong learning and reskilling programmes, can play a decisive role in reducing the potential impact of AI on jobs.
This is precisely why the new National Digital & AI Strategy, commits to supporting workers in managing the impacts of potential job displacement by ensuring access to agile, fit-for-purpose and high-quality upskilling and reskilling opportunities.
My colleague Minister James Lawless has been working on a number of key deliverables within the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to ensure the alignment of skills provision to support workers to adapt to changes arising from AI. These include:
• Roadmap for Technology Skills of the Future to ensure the skills ecosystem remains future-focused.
• A new online one-stop-shop AI Skilling Platform for employers and individuals.
• A nationwide Digital and AI skilling campaign to highlight opportunities.
• A new National Skills Observatory to analyse labour market dynamics and skills development across all skills needs, identifying gaps in provision, and enabling additional skills initiatives.
• Enhanced upskilling opportunities with SOLAS and Skillnet.
Finally, it is important to note that Ireland's labour-market conditions remain strong. Employment stands at 2.83 million, up 56,700 year-on-year to Q4 2025, with record participation and near-record low unemployment.
