Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 13 May 2026
132. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration how his Department intends to manage overlaps between the EU AI Act, GDPR, and the Digital Services Act; whether a formal coordination mechanism between regulators has been established; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35519/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe agencies tasked with regulating the GDPR, DSA and EU AI Act in Ireland are independent of Government in the performance of their responsibilities and functions. However, ensuring a well-functioning digital regulatory environment is a key priority for Government and inter-regulatory cooperation is key to achieving this aim.
Ireland is committed to strengthening its position as an EU Centre of Excellence and digital regulatory hub and to ensuring a modern, cohesive and well-resourced regulatory framework that is responsive to the evolving digital age. Key objectives in our new National Digital & AI Strategy, Digital Ireland, include a commitment to reinforce Ireland’s position as a trusted, agile, forward-looking digital regulatory hub for companies operating across the EU Digital Single Market; delivering a predictable, efficient, and streamlined regulatory environment; and fostering collaboration and coherence across the digital regulatory landscape.
Regular stakeholder engagement is a central feature in this work, including continued formal engagement on important digital regulatory issues with the Digital Regulators Group (which consists of the Data Protection Commission (DPC), Coimisiún na Meán, Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) and Comreg) through the Senior Officials Group on Digital & AI (Digital & AI SOG). The Digital & AI SOG is chaired by the Department of the Taoiseach, (and attended by officials from my department and other interested departments, such as the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment), and reports to the Cabinet Committee on the Economy, Trade and Competitiveness.
Ireland will continue to be a strong voice in Europe for balanced, proportionate and coherent digital regulation, which supports competitiveness and innovation, while protecting data privacy and fundamental rights; this includes continuing to advocate for an ambitious and dynamic approach to digital simplification.
