I propose to take Questions Nos. 213 and 214 together.
The Government published interim guidance on the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the Public Service in February 2024 and instructed that all AI tools used by the Irish Public Service comply with the seven requirements for ethical AI that have been developed by the European Commission’s High Level Expert Group on AI. These fall under the headings of: human agency and oversight, technical robustness and safety, privacy and data governance, transparency, diversity, non-discrimination and fairness, societal and environmental well-being, and accountability. This guidance is available online at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/2127d-interim-guidelines-for-use-of-ai/.
Within my Department, a guidance note on AI, in the context of the use of ChatGPT, was issued to all staff in May 2023. This reminded staff of their responsibilities in general as set out in the Department’s Acceptable Use of ICT policy and advised staff that an appropriate risk assessment should be carried out before using any new technology. Known risks in using AI were also flagged in the guidance.
Finally, I am advised that neither staff in my Department nor in the bodies under its aegis have used AI software in the preparation of responses to Parliamentary Questions or in responses to any correspondence from outside the organisation.
