James Geoghegan
Question:351. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment for an update on the work of the AI Office of Ireland since its establishment earlier this year. [68166/26]
View answerTuesday, 29 September 2026
Questions (351)
Written answers
The AI Office of Ireland commenced operations on 31 July 2026 and has made significant progress in putting in place the systems, relationships and organisational capacity required to carry out its functions under the EU AI Act.
Since its establishment, the AI Office has put in place its public-facing website and Service Desk, commenced engagement with relevant Market Surveillance Authorities and with counterparts at EU level, and begun the development of the internal governance, risk, resourcing and operational processes required by the new organisation. The Board of the AI Office has also met for the first time in September.
The Service Desk provides a dedicated channel through which members of the public and organisations can raise queries and complaints with the Office. This provides the Office with a structured means of receiving, tracking and responding to contacts as its regulatory functions develop.
The Office is also undertaking an active programme of stakeholder engagement. This includes engagement with regulatory and public bodies, industry, research and innovation organisations and other stakeholders, as well as engagement with the EU AI Office, other Member States and relevant EU structures. The purpose of this engagement is to build the relationships required for effective implementation of the AI Act and to understand emerging regulatory, innovation and implementation issues.
The AI Office acts as the central coordinating body for the implementation of the EU AI Act in Ireland. In particular, the Office:
• Co-ordinates the effective implementation of the AI Act in Ireland;
• Acts as the Single Point of Contact for the EU AI Act for the European Commission, national sectoral regulators and the public;
• Facilitates access to technical expertise by other competent authorities, as required; and
• Supports responsible AI innovation and adoption, including through the development of Ireland's AI regulatory sandbox and through its wider role as a focal point for AI regulation, innovation, deployment and AI literacy.
Over the coming 12 months, the AI Office will continue to build the capacity required to carry out these functions effectively. Priorities include developing the regulatory sandbox, progressing an AI literacy programme, establishing a pool of technical expertise that can support Market Surveillance Authorities in AI Act-related investigations, market surveillance and sandbox activities, and further developing the Office's regulatory processes and procedures.
The Office is continuing to build its organisational and specialist capacity, with recruitment underway across a number of functions. In parallel, work is progressing on the systems, processes and operational arrangements required to support the Office in carrying out its functions under the EU AI Act.