Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 19 February 2026
35. Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment to provide an update on the setting up of the proposed national AI office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13369/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe AI Office of Ireland will be the central co-ordinating authority for the EU AI Act in Ireland. Ireland has adopted a distributed model for implementation of the Act; there are currently 13 Market Surveillance Authorities and 4 Notifying Authorities designated.
€1.5 million has been allocated to the start-up phase of the AI Office in 2026. In order to meet the August deadline my officials are focused on a number of key priorities. They include recruiting key personnel, designing and developing an ICT framework, establishing a Single Point of Contact framework, developing an extensive communications programme, ensuring the establishment of a national Regulatory Sandbox and establishing a technical pool of expertise for access by the Competent Authorities.
In tandem with the operational functions of establishing the AI Office, my Department is working with the Office of Parliamentary Counsel on the priority drafting of domestic legislation that will provide for the implementation and enforcement of the EU AI Act at national level, including the establishment of the AI Office as an independent statutory entity.
