Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 July 2024
187. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Finance if his Department has ever used artificial intelligence, such as ChatGPT, in drafting Dáil speeches or responses to Parliamentary Questions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29278/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm for the Deputy that the Government approved Interim Guidelines for the Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the Public Service earlier this year. In doing so, the Government recognised the opportunities AI presents to help improve the delivery of public services to our citizens. These guidelines also established that AI tools used in the civil and public service must comply with seven key requirements for ethical AI.
My Department follows advice from the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) released in June 2023. This advice set forth not to use GenAI to generate responses to correspondence such as Parliamentary Questions or public representations; nor to rely on GenAI to assist in designing or drafting Government policy. The NCSC guidance also recommended that new technology should only be adopted based on a clearly defined business need following an appropriate risk assessment.
As such, I can confirm that access to GenAI tools is blocked by my Department’s IT provider.
