Cathal Crowe
Ceist:43. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the policy initiatives taken on AI in 2025; the priorities for 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2638/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraWednesday, 14 January 2026
Ceisteanna (43)
Freagraí scríofa
In 2025, my Department advanced significant AI policy initiatives aligned with the Programme for Government's commitment to harness the digital and AI revolution for modern public services and economic growth.
My Department leads national implementation of the EU AI Act and made strong progress in 2025. We adopted a distributed model, allowing businesses to work with regulators who understand their sectors, making compliance more practical and effective. Budget 2026 secured €1.5 million in start-up funding to establish the AI Office of Ireland by August 2026. It will coordinate EU AI Act implementation, promote transparent and safe AI adoption, and oversee a national AI regulatory sandbox where innovators can test solutions with compliance experts.
During 2025, my Department provided compliance resources through CeADAR (Ireland's national centre for applied AI), my Department's website, and the EU AI Act Service Desk's Compliance Checker. We also developed "AI for You: Introduction to AI and the EU AI Act" a free online course for citizens and enterprises.
The 2025 Action Plan on Competitiveness and Productivity includes eight AI and digital adoption measures. Last year I also launched the Charter for Digital Inclusion, enabling businesses and organizations to help bridge the digital gap by promoting digital skills and supporting AI adoption.
The National Digital and AI Strategy, due for publication early this year, includes key actions beyond the AI Office and regulatory sandbox:
• Hosting an International Digital & AI Summit during our EU presidency
• Establishing an Observatory to monitor AI adoption across enterprises, aligned with the new National Skills Observatory to guide future enterprise and jobs policy
Our priority is driving AI adoption in business, particularly SMEs. My department offers support ranging from grant funding to tailored consultancy, and I will work to increase awareness of AI's benefits and available assistance.