Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 July 2026
274. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the timeframe for preparation of the proposed second Bill on AI regulation; the way in which the industry and other stakeholders will be consulted and involved in defining the scope of issues to be addressed in the planned Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53712/26]
View answerI'd like to thank the Deputy for this question.
As the Deputy will be aware, on 13 January 2026, Government approved priority drafting of the Regulation of Artificial Intelligence Bill 2026 to give full effect to the EU Artificial Intelligence Act (AI Act), based on the General Scheme. The decision also noted the amalgamation of that General Scheme with the General Scheme of the Data Bill, my intention to refer it to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise, Tourism and Employment for pre-legislative scrutiny, and my intention to publish it in the interests of transparency.
Since then, my officials have worked intensively with the Office of Parliamentary Counsel, the Office of the Attorney General and relevant line Departments to progress legislative drafting. This has been particularly challenging given the complexity of the Bill and the parallel progression of the Digital Omnibus on AI, which amends the AI Act. While substantial progress has been made, a number of elements across the two amalgamated Bills required further policy, legal and drafting consideration and could not be finalised before the summer recess.
The Digital Omnibus on AI has revised certain AI Act deadlines: transparency obligations for AI systems already on the market now apply from 2 December 2026 rather than 2 August 2026; high-risk use cases from 2 December 2027 rather than 2 August 2026; and high-risk products from 2 August 2028 rather than 2 August 2027. However, there is no extension for supervision and enforcement of prohibited AI practices under Article 5, which will apply from 2 August 2026.
Accordingly, Government agreed in June 2026 that a phased legislative approach is required. The phase one of the Regulation of Artificial Intelligence Bill 2026, which is currently going through the Houses establishes Oifig IS na hÉireann (the AI Office) which will act as the Single point of Contact for the purpose of AI Act and empowers national market surveillance authorities for the supervision and enforcement of Prohibited practices, meeting our immediate EU obligations under the AI Act.
My officials are already working on Phase 2 of the Bill, to be progressed in Autumn 2026, which will complete the Regulation of Non-Personal Data Bill, and which will carry any outstanding AI-related provisions, including notifying authorities, funding arrangements and bespoke regulatory requirements enabling certain MSAs to align with their existing investigation and sanctions regimes. It will also carry in-scope amendments arising, and which are in-scope of the Bill, from pre-legislative scrutiny and any changes required following adoption of the Digital Omnibus on AI.
My Department is currently awaiting the PLS report, which included an extensive stakeholder consultation, which will be reflected in the drafting of Phase 2. My officials will continue to work with colleagues in the relevant Departments, with the Office of the Attorney General and with all relevant stakeholders to ensure drafting is concluded ahead of the remaining EU AI Act deadlines.
It is important to note that the AI Act is an EU regulation, intended to set harmonised rules to ensure consistency of protections for citizens and simplification for businesses in regulating and providing and deploying AI across the 27 member states of the EU. Domestic legislation gives legal effect to a national regulatory framework to apply the AI Act, it does not seek to alter, amend or add to the obligations of that regulation.
I believe that by meeting our obligations under the AI Act, we will strengthen Ireland’s position as a centre of excellence in Europe and as a leading digital regulatory hub. It will also show our commitment to supporting responsible AI innovation and adoption, both here in Ireland and across Europe. These are key aims of Ireland’s National Digital & AI Strategy, Digital Ireland – Connecting our People, Securing our Future.
