Minister of State will ‘take on board’ proposal that Ireland seek to host EU office for regulating AI

Minister of State Dara Calleary will “absolutely take on board” a suggestion that the Government seek to host a central European Union office for the regulation of artificial intelligence (AI), he told the Seanad on Tuesday.

Mr Calleary, a Fianna Fáil Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, also said the search for experts to sit on the Government’s AI advisory council had received an “overwhelming” number of applications.

He was responding to a call from Senator Malcolm Byrne, his Fianna Fáil colleague, to issue an update on the Government’s progress on its AI strategy amid the development of the European Union’s proposed AI Act.

The legislation – on which pan-EU agreement is expected by the spring of 2024 “at the latest”, according to Mr Calleary – may be followed by the establishment of a central AI office responsible for enforcing its provisions.

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Mr Byrne said that in light of the State’s role as a centre for global technology and the “very progressive” stance taken by the Government on its national AI strategy, “we might look to host the European Union’s AI office here in Ireland”.

Addressing the Senator’s concerns about the level of awareness across Irish society and the economy about both the opportunities and the risks posed by AI, Mr Calleary said there would be an information campaign when the Act is finalised.

The Minister of State, who has a specific focus on digital transformation, added that a “key part” of his work in the coming weeks would be the appointment of the AI advisory council. As well as providing advice to the Government on AI policy, the body will also “demystify” innovations in this area and promote a trustworthy, ethical and “person-centred” AI, he said.

“We have had an overwhelming level of applications, [people with] huge expertise [are] interested in serving, and I think we will put together a very good and independent council.”

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Mr Byrne, who said the AI Act could become “the most significant piece of European legislation this decade”, expressed concern that it might permit the tech sector “too much self-assessment” when it comes to the classification of certain AI uses as high-risk. Input from elected representatives was “critical”, he said.

The Senator also reiterated his call for the establishment of a special Oireachtas committee to hold public hearings on the subject of AI.

“There’s not a day goes by, I think, without a news story about how AI is transforming some aspect of society or the economy,” he said.