Niamh Smyth
Cavan-Monaghan · Fianna Fáil · Ireland
“I thank Senator Higgins for speaking to this amendment and Senator Stephenson for putting it forward. I fully agree on the importance of co-operation and co-ordination between competent authorities in the implementation and enforcement of the AI Act.”
“63 would reduce the current period of 14 working days to a period of no more than seven days. The purpose of section 49 is to balance regulatory intervention with fair procedures.”
“I am going to take time after this debate to look at the Instagram account the Deputy raised today to see for myself. I do not disbelieve the Deputy. It upsets me so much to see that is allowed. Where is the monitoring of it?”
“These are: prohibited practices under Article 5; serious incidents reported under Article 73; high-risk AI systems referred to in annexe III in accordance with Article 49(5); and any other AI-related incidents or notifications required to be reported under the regulation.”
“The Government will continue to benefit from the expertise of the office in the deployment and implementation of AI-related policy and regulation.”
“I know that when you go to public meetings like those in question, there are tough stories from parents and you may feel a little inadequate sometimes in being able to deal with these things as quickly as possible. I am glad the Deputies used their time here today to make the presentation and to campaign for the parents.”
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“This demonstrates how the EU regulatory framework actively supports online safety. Introducing this Bill, with its provisions that would appear to go further than those set out by the Digital Services Act maximum harmonisation measure, would not be appropriate at this stage. The Digital Services Act, as part of Ireland's online safety framework, represents the best way to address and acknowledge the risks of recommender systems. That is why the Government cannot support the Bill. I reiterate for the benefit of the House that the Government is relentlessly committed to online safety, in particular for children and young people.”
“It must be acknowledged that this legislative framework is relatively new and the Digital Services Act has only applied since February 2024. However, the Government has ensured that Coimisiún na Meán is fully resourced, with more than 300 staff working in it. This means it is well placed to provide the support, expertise and assistance required by the European Commission to do the work it does. This is borne out in the preliminary findings made by the European Commission in its investigation into TikTok regarding the platform's recommender systems. Coimisiún na Meán supported the work of the European Commission in this regard. TikTok has a right of reply to these preliminary findings, as required by due process, but it is clear the European Commission has identified serious issues that TikTok will need to examine and assess.”
“Coimisiún na Meán is of the view that the recommender systems and their harmful effects are best addressed through the Digital Services Act, which is one of the laws that makes up Ireland's online safety framework. It came to this view as part of the process of developing the online safety code. As I have said, the Digital Services Act sets out a range of parameters by which platforms must set up their recommender systems, including options without profiling, to ensure children and young people are protected and that people's privacy is respected. Platforms must also be transparent about how they set up recommender systems. With the European Commission leading on regulation of the very large online platforms and search engines, there is a constituency for these platforms across the European Union.”
“This is incredibly important, but as the adults in the room, sometimes we may need to help them make the right decision by not having them exposed to this at a really young age. In the lead-up to the Presidency, we will see a youth forum take place, with young people invited to share their thoughts on online safety and how it might be enacted. The current approach is through the Digital Services Act, with the support of Coimisiún na Meán as Ireland's digital services co-ordinator. It is gathering information, collating it and sharing it with the Commission to act in the correct and proper way and, more importantly, to implement the Digital Services Act.”
“As member states we have to show the courage of our conviction and look at that and perhaps do it in an individual way as states to try to push this on with the Commission. That said, we have Coimisiún na Meán, which was established to look in depth into these issues to see how we can best address them and to try to address them at both a national and a European level. Online safety is a priority issue for the Government and for me particularly as I have responsibility for digitalisation and AI. As mentioned earlier, online safety will be front and centre during Ireland's Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Our colleague in the Labour Party spoke about engaging with young people and having their voices in the conversation.”
“It was like the playground for teenagers. In recent times, it really has gone into the gutter in certain respects and aspects. We need to address that. I am very thankful to People Before Profit for tabling the Bill on the recommender algorithms. We have a body of work to do on this. I am personally in favour. It is in the remit of the Department of the Minister, Deputy O'Donovan, which is a different Department from mine, so I am speaking on my own behalf. Age verification is incredibly important. The European Commission is doing great work on this with the Digital Services Act but I have seen what they have done in France, who have powered ahead and taken it upon themselves nationally to bring in age verification.”
“An Garda Síochána investigated it further and sent it to the Director of Public Prosecutions, DPP, to see whether it would prosecute, and the DPP decided against it. That individual felt emboldened enough by this to put a selfie up on Facebook with a pint of Guinness saying, "Niamh Smyth, you're a [you can guess what word he used] and I won". They were his words, "I won". I use this anecdote because everybody in the Chamber has felt it in one way or another. Our job is to ensure that our kids do not have to go through this or should not be subjected to it. Deputy Dolan comes from a generation where he has grown up with it and he used it at a time when it was not as toxic as it is today. As one of our colleagues in the Labour Party spoke about earlier, it was a place where people could engage with communities and people.”
“I thank Deputies Gibney, Gogarty, Healy-Rae and Dolan, who spoke so eloquently about this issue. I also thank People Before Profit and Deputies Boyd Barrett and Murphy for tabling this incredibly important Bill. It comes with a backdrop where we have all been subjected to abuse, as Sinéad was last night. I have been subjected to it myself, as has everybody in the House and particularly women. I do not think the gentlemen in the Chamber would disagree wthat women do face an increased amount of abuse online. I have been at the coalface of it and did what we think we should do, which is report it to An Garda Síochána. I had to report it on a number of occasions. It was perpetrated by an individual who was not faceless.”
“The new national skills observatory and the observatory for business AI readiness will play an important role in shaping future enterprises and employment policies, as well as directing targeted investment in upskilling and reskilling, ensuring that our workforce is supported and ready to adapt as these roles evolve. Finally, I want to emphasise that while artificial intelligence should drive innovation it must also be fair, inclusive and trustworthy. This is why when implementing our new strategy the Government will work hand in hand with businesses, experts and most importantly our citizens. Our ambition is straightforward, which is to create a country where AI and digital innovation genuinely improve people's lives and contribute to a fair, resilient and future-focused economy and society. I thank the Acting Chair for her latitude.”
“Recent research from the expert group on future skills needs reports that Ireland's enterprise sector and workforce are adapting rapidly to AI, with strong demand for AI skills matched by solid supply. While the report finds that AI is likely to augment many existing roles it also notes that the overall impact on employment levels is less clearcut and that continued monitoring is essential. What is clear is that the structure of work will continue to change and new types of jobs will emerge. Digital Ireland outlines actions to support workers to navigate and mitigate the impacts of potential job displacement, including through agile, responsive and accessible skills' supports.”
“The general scheme of the regulation of artificial intelligence Bill 2026 was approved for priority drafting at the Government meeting on 13 January 2026. The guiding principles are that the AI office of Ireland must be independent in structure in order to oversee the governance and co-ordination of the national roll out and ongoing supervision and enforcement of the EU AI Act, ensuring that all relevant authorities and stakeholders are aligned with its interpretation and the application of the regulations. A separate issue, which I know is on people's minds, is the potential impact of job displacement. AI is a disruptive technology and I completely understand concerns regarding the impact of AI on the labour market. While AI will undoubtedly create new opportunities it also carries risks of job displacement.”
“Taken together these measures provide Ireland with a structured, expert, informed and citizen-focused system on our approach to artificial intelligence policies and ethics. I also want to assure Members of the independence of the new AI office. While Deputy Gibney has a concern about it coming from the Department of enterprise, as was quite rightly said, when that new CEO is appointed that is where it will be led from and that will show us the pathway for where AI will be in a much broader sense. While it is established by the Department of enterprise I think that any anybody coming in who gets that position will have to ensure they have that much broader view of the world when we are talking about AI. I also want to assure Members of the independence of the AI office.”
“In November 2024 the Government designated a list of national public bodies that protect fundamental rights. We need to just keep that in our minds. These are nine national bodies to protect fundamental rights, including the right to non-discrimination in relation to certain high-risk uses of AI systems specific to the AI Act. In addition, once established the national AI office of Ireland will engage and consult with a broad range of stakeholders across civic society, including the representative bodies most affected by AI systems. Deputy Gibney made the point about having the balance. That is critically important. It was alluded to in opening comments that we have a shared focus on getting the balance right and that it is not just about innovation. It is about our citizens as well.”
“Digital Ireland renews the Government's commitment to inclusion and accessibility to ensure that no one is left behind in this digital and AI revolution. Our wider national governance framework for AI, including implementation of the EU AI Act, is designed to promote fairness, transparency and strong protections for health, safety and fundamental rights, while supporting the development of a human-centered, trustworthy AI. Apologies Chair, I obviously waffled too long. Could I conclude?”
“Implementation will be driven from the centre of Government by the Department of the Taoiseach, working with all relevant Departments, and overseen by the Cabinet committee on economy, trade and competitiveness. Progress will be monitored via the senior officials' group on digital and AI issues, with progress reports published annually. Regular stakeholder engagements will be a key element in ensuring successful, responsive and agile implementation. The Oireachtas Joint Committee on AI's report emphasises the need for engagement and input from civil society. I take on board too the recommendation and the thought process on a civic open discussion around this debate. That is a really good idea. The Government recognises the importance of ensuring that Ireland's approach to AI serves the needs of all parts of society.”
“There are many different elements and many different Departments within government. It is not a silo we are working in. It has that broad approach and every single Minister within this Government is very conscious of the impact of AI in all of our Departments, and that is exactly how it should be. A central element of the strategy is to champion AI as a transformative strategic technology, reinforcing our ambition to maximise its economic and societal impact. There is a strong alignment between elements of the strategy and several of the committee's recommendations. I think we are all united in our shared aim of ensuring that everyone in society is equipped and empowered to thrive in this digital era. Delivering on the strategy requires strong leadership.”
“Digital Ireland sets out a clear road map for Ireland's digital and AI adoption and development in the years ahead. As mentioned, it takes a whole-of-government approach, building on Ireland's strengths in digital skills, enterprise, infrastructure and the transformation of public services. It has to be acknowledged that the Department of the Taoiseach has taken a central piece and a central role in collaborating on the national AI and digital strategy, but my colleagues right across Government have a role too, including the Minister, Deputy Jack Chambers, who has responsibility for AI and the guidelines around public services. The Minister f or Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Deputy James Lawless, also has a specific role and a focus on AI.”
“My Department is engaging with these authorities and will continue to ensure that there is balance, and that innovation and creativity among our businesses is allowed to flourish and that they are not killed by bureaucracy, which we know has been a problem, and at the same time we are looking at and protecting the fundamental rights of our citizens. I just wanted to outline that from the outset. I thank the chair of the committee, Deputy Malcolm Byrne, and all colleagues for speaking today, and for the publication of this report. I welcome this constructive contribution and discussion on our approach to AI. It is clear that no one entity can navigate the complexities of AI alone. This debate is very timely with the publication last week of the national digital and AI strategy.”
“Declan McCormack, who is here with me and has been through every debate to advise and assure me, as well as to take the views the Deputies make so that those are fed into the regulation of the AI office. The fundamental rights and the protection of our citizens is going to be at the heart of everything we do. That is very important. With regard to the simplification piece and the digital omnibus, Ireland will be pushing to ensure that it does not mean deregulation or the exposure of fundamental rights for our citizens. There is one other piece. Nine national authorities have been identified as the formal bodies for the protection of fundamental rights under the AI Act. These authorities have a central role in the implementation of the AI regulation in Ireland and Europe.”
“I thank each and every Deputy for their measured, considered contributions. We are all striving and working towards the same thing. I might specify two particular issues that have been raised overall. On simplification, I know how Deputy Gibney in particular feels, but we all feel passionate about it. The idea of simplification does not in any way diminish our protection of citizens and our fundamental rights. That is absolutely clear. The Deputy is right, in that I am coming from the perspective of being in the Department of enterprise. We are all agreed that, for many years, businesses have felt stifled by bureaucracy and over-regulation. There is no doubt about that, but we cannot just lumber it all in together. I want to thank my officials, including Mr.”
“I know they have worked extensively and very intensively. I tuned in to the AI committee hearing on Tuesday. I also want to put on the record my disappointment that some of the biggest companies here in Ireland, Microsoft and OpenAI, were not in a position to attend. I am equally disappointed that the committee did not get any response from X at all. I thank Google, whose representative attended and listened to the views of our colleagues from around the House.”
“The summit has Government sponsorship at the highest level, bringing together over 1,000 global leaders, including CEOs, EU Ministers, officials, academia and innovators. As Ireland sits at the intersection of European and global tech, we are uniquely placed to convene meaningful dialogue. I am very much looking forward to showcasing Ireland's leadership in AI and digital innovation. I will finish by saying that our vision is clear. We want to build an environment where AI and digital innovation empower our people and strengthen our economy and society in a way that is ethical, inclusive and sustainable. I look forward to the debate today. I will conclude by thanking all of the colleagues here today. This reflects many of the recommendations that have been made. I thank each and every Deputy for their contributions.”
“It will provide a valuable source of data and insights on the labour market and skills, facilitating improved workforce planning, stronger policy making, and improved lifelong learning and workforce reskilling. In my Department, we will establish an observatory for business Al readiness, focused on enterprise adoption of Al. Together with the national skills observatory, this will inform the Government in shaping future Al-related enterprises and jobs policy. Finally, the committee’s report highlights the importance of the summit we are planning as part of our EU Presidency. I am happy to say work is well under way in the planning this flagship event, which will have the overall theme of enabling Al to power innovation-led growth across Europe.”
“It is important that we strengthen Ireland’s capability to understand and respond to the opportunities and challenges presented by Al. We are fully aligned with the committee on this point. For this reason, the new strategy includes actions to establish two observatories, which will provide the evidence base necessary to guide workforce, enterprise and innovation policy in the years ahead. First, on skills, the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science has recently signalled his intention to progress the establishment of the national skills observatory, which is envisaged will transform our skills intelligence landscape.”
“These measures reinforce the Government's commitment to enhancing online safety, in particular for children and young people, as a whole-of-government and European priority. This brings me to another key focus of the report and a primary objective of the Al Act, namely, to promote and support the adoption of safe and trustworthy Al in enterprise and in our wider society. I have seen at first hand the impact Al can have on boosting productivity and enhancing competitiveness in firms of all sizes. This will be achieved through a new targeted sectoral strategy to drive enterprise Al adoption and by appointing new Al sector champions. We will also conduct an Al and digital awareness and literacy campaign for SMEs.”
“It has been noted on a number of recent occasions in this House that several investigations are ongoing on these matters and the Attorney General and the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration are examining and will consider whether further legislative measures are needed in the area of non-consensual intimate images. In my own Department, we are liaising with the European Commission and member states to advocate for adding the use of AI systems for the generation of such images to the list of prohibited AI practices under the EU AI Act. Online safety is a core pillar underpinning the National Digital and AI Strategy 2030 and a priority for Ireland's Presidency of the Council of the European Union.”
“I want to be clear that online safety, especially for children and young people, remains a whole-of-government priority. A significant body of legislation and regulation, including Coco's Law, the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act and the EU Digital Services Act, is already in place. From a digital regulation perspective, the DSA forms a central part of Ireland's online safety framework. It includes specific provisions on recommender systems to ensure transparency. Under the DSA, platforms must clearly explain the main parameters behind how content is suggested to users. Services accessible to minors must also ensure a high level of privacy, safety and security, including a ban on direct ads based on profiling when the user is a minor.”
“My officials are currently focused on the initial steps to stand up the new Al office of Ireland, including recruiting key personnel, developing the ICT framework, putting in place a single-point-of-contact structure, designing an extensive communications programme and putting in place a pool of technical expertise to support the competent authorities. The creation of the Al office of Ireland provides an opportunity to provide the Government with a permanent, independent source of expertise on Al. It will also promote the safe adoption of Al in our country. Recent online safety issues have highlighted just how essential it is to have a strong and effective legal framework in place. The committee’s report makes a number of recommendations in relation to online safety and has particular concern around recommender systems.”
“The office will be the central co-ordinating body for the implementation of the EU Al Act and will leverage the expertise of regulators across all sectors to ensure that when Al is deployed, it is done in a responsible and ethical manner. The remit of the office will also include maintaining a central register to identify and monitor systemic risks across sectors, ensuring the establishment of the national Al regulatory sandbox, and establishing collaborative forums with representative groups from society to support transparency, accountability and effective governance as Ireland implements the EU Al Act.”
“My officials are engaging intensively and extensively with my Department, competent authorities and fundamental rights bodies to ensure Ireland is ready for the full implementation of the regulation of AI in Ireland. In parallel, work is progressing on the establishment of the independent statutory Al office of Ireland, which is scheduled to be in place by August 2026. The Government recognises the importance of Ireland's reputation as a trusted, agile, forward-looking digital regulatory hub, and of ensuring our regulators are independent and adequately resourced. The statutory status and governance structure of the Al office of Ireland reflects that of established regulator bodies and is in line with Government’s code of practice for the governance of State bodies. A budget of €1.5 million has been allocated for its start-up phase.”
“That said, the Act also imposes obligations on member states that require national implementing measures, including establishing a regulatory regime to supervise and enforce the regulation and establishing a single point of contact. My Department is leading across government on the national implementation. We are making really strong progress on implementing the EU Al Act, the main supervision and enforcement provisions of which take effect from August 2026, with more specific rules to follow by 2027. The Government recently approved priority drafting of the legislation needed to give full effect to the Act. We have adopted a distributed implementation model so businesses can work with regulators who understand their sectors.”
“This aligns with the objectives and work of my Department, as does the report’s call for the national Al office to support Government, business and civic society in understanding and adopting trustworthy Al where appropriate. The Al Act is an EU regulation which provides a consistent and high level of protection for European citizens’ health, safety and fundamental rights, and provides certainty for the use of human-centred and trustworthy AI in the EU. As an EU regulation, it is directly applicable and binding to all EU member states and ensures uniform rules for artificial intelligence to be applied across the EU.”
“Through 20 high-level objectives and 90 deliverables, the strategy outlines the concrete actions that will accelerate digital and Al adoption across enterprise, the public sector, research and academia. It also includes targeted measures to improve public services and strengthen our health service. The 85 recommendations in the committee's report naturally cut across the work of many Departments. I will focus specifically on some of the key recommendations that fall within my own remit. I am pleased to say that many of the recommendations are already under way. Starting with regulation and the national Al office, I acknowledge the emphasis the interim report places on ensuring robust and effective regulation is in place, and the important role of the national Al office in that regard.”
“Those ambitions are to apply digital and Al technologies to enhance public services; to grow our digital economy and profile as a location of choice for investment and as a global hub for Applied Al; to invest in secure, resilient, future-proofed digital infrastructure, including building our cybersecurity capacity; to lead as a trusted, agile and forward-looking digital regulatory hub and centre of excellence; and to empower all groups in society and the economy with the skills and literacy needed to participate confidently and safely in a digital and Al economy and society. In order to protect vulnerable groups, particularly children and young people, we will also enhance our online safety framework at both national and EU levels.”
“That is exactly why, last week, the Government published our new national digital and Al strategy, Digital Ireland - Connecting our People, Securing our Future. The strategy reflects both the breadth of our ambition and the shared responsibility across government. It sets out five strategic and mutually reinforcing ambitions - apply, grow, invest, lead and empower - reflecting the agility needed to succeed in a fast-evolving digital world.”
“The opportunity Al offers is immense, but I am acutely aware that so is our responsibility to get it right. The Government recognises that Al is not just a powerful tool for business and the economy; it is an enabler of progress that can benefit society as a whole and improve he lives of our citizens. Al is not confined to any one sector, as the Cathaoirleach quite rightly alluded to. It is a cross-cutting technology that influences many areas of public policy and everyday life. The impacts of Al range from public service delivery, digital infrastructure, cybersecurity and online safety to enterprise and innovation, skills development and digital regulation. This requires a co-ordinated, coherent and ambitious whole-of-government response.”
“I welcome the opportunity to address the House. I sincerely thank Deputy Byrne, as Cathaoirleach of the Joint Committee on Artificial Intelligence, and the overall committee for the important work they have undertaken in their first interim report, which is the subject of this motion. The extensive engagement by the committee that informed this work, including the range of views and perspectives gathered through consultations, expert discussions and research is evident throughout. I appreciate the significant time and consideration that went into developing such a comprehensive report. We are at a pivotal moment in our digital transformation. The rapid progress of digital technologies, and Al in particular, is changing how we live, how we work and how we interact as a society.”
“The Government will continue to work hand in hand with business, experts and, most importantly, citizens because our vision is clear - to build an environment where AI and digital innovation empower our people and strengthen our economy and society in a way that is ethical, inclusive and sustainable.”
“Through these initiatives, we will ensure that our workforce is supported and equipped to adapt as roles evolve, while enabling our enterprises to stay competitive in an AI-driven economy. I thank Senators for their forbearance. To conclude, artificial intelligence should drive innovation, but it must be safe, inclusive and trustworthy. I welcome the announcement of the European Commission this week that it has opened an investigation into Grok and the misuse of AI to generate appalling deepfake images. It is a prime example of how trust can be eroded and why governance is so important.”
“What is clear is that the development of new capabilities and capacities in the workforce will be necessary as it is very likely that new job types will emerge. Ireland has always had an agile and adaptable labour force, however. Government's priority through targeted investment in reskilling and upskilling initiatives is to empower our workforce with the skills needed to thrive in an AI-enabled economy and meet the demand of evolving roles. We will also create an observatory dedicated to monitoring the use of AI across enterprise, working in tandem with the new national skills observatory. The observatory will guide the development of future enterprise and jobs policies.”
“I do not ever want anybody to think we are putting our heads in the sand around this. There will be job displacement. Nobody is saying there will not. Working along with the Minister, Deputy Lawless, however, we are establishing the AI observatory, which will look on a research basis at the jobs mostly likely to be affected, try to mitigate against that by upskilling and reskilling, and look in what other directions we can encourage people to go. My Department, the Economic and Social Research Institute, ESRI, and the National Competitiveness and Productivity Council are undertaking research on the potential impacts of AI on key sectors in the Irish economy. The final report is due to be published early this year.”
“I am acutely aware of the concerns regarding the impact of AI on the labour market. Its impact on the future of work is unfolding. The expert group on future skills needs report, AI and the Irish Labour Market, shows that Ireland is relatively more exposed to AI-related disruption than other advanced economies, with high exposure potentially among those with higher education attainment. It indicates that female and younger workers are more likely to be in roles that can be affected. The research also found that Ireland's enterprise sector and workforce were adapting rapidly to AI, with strong demand for AI skills matched by solid supply. However, support rightly notes that the Government must continue to monitor and address any risks AI may pose to our workforce.”
“It is a landmark step in Ireland’s mission to create a more inclusive digital society. The initiative emphasised the importance of partnership, particularly the role of larger businesses to support SMEs and to adopt and benefit from digital technologies. The charter reflects the UN’s principle of "leave no one behind" as outlined in Digital for Good: Ireland’s Digital Inclusion Roadmap. It sets out commitments for businesses and organisations to help to close the digital divide by promoting basic digital skills, equality and affordability, by raising awareness and by enabling access to online resources. I invite public bodies, businesses and community organisations to endorse this charter, adopt its principles and join in building a more inclusive digital future for all. Artificial intelligence is a disruptive technology.”
“It worked incredibly hard and it gave me that report within days of the issue breaking. The report is very clear and concise. It has four clear recommendations which I intend to follow through on. Of course the other tasks are to implement the EU AI Act, establish a new AI office here in Ireland and make Ireland’s voice heard in international AI governance forums such as the EU AI board. I have met it and set out our concerns. It is important to use the opportunity we have in the coming months with the EU Presidency. We are working really closely on that. It is great to have that opportunity in the coming months. Digital and AI technology is transforming every aspect of our lives but not everyone has equal access to its benefits. In 2025, I introduced the charter for digital inclusion.”
“As we pursue our ambitions in AI, I want to acknowledge that rapid technological progress brings real societal challenges, particularly with regard to privacy and the protection of fundamental rights. I know Senator Ruane has always felt incredibly passionate about this matters. The opportunity AI offers is immense but there is a responsibility to get it right. I promise I take that responsibility very seriously. It is important that AI is leveraged both for the greater good in business, in the economy and in wider society. That is why we have been actively working to put enablers and guardrails in place by increasing the awareness and understanding through trusted independent voices such as the AI advisory council. I encourage everyone to read its report.”
“I am making the case, and I do not believe it is falling on deaf ears, that if you can create the technology to do these abhorrent things – this should not be happening in the first place - you have a duty to ensure that standards and safety measures are there to make sure those things cannot happen. I do not buy that it is the users’ fault. I do not buy the argument about bad actors. Of course we know that there are such people but that is a mere distraction from what these tech companies are doing. I promise each and every one of them that I will work to the end on this issue to ensure our citizens are protected. I thank the AI committee. It brought a full and comprehensive report, including recommendations, to me. We will act on as many of them as we can. I think there were 85 recommendations. I thank it most sincerely for that.”
“The advisory council recommended a campaign similar to the ones that are being run around consent and the sharing of images. All those types of national campaigns that Coimisiún na Meán has run have been very effective. I am not saying they will stamp it out but I am talking about the human psyche and knowing what is acceptable and what is not, I accept how influenced small children and teenagers are. If they go into their bedrooms at night and have the world wide web in their hand, they can be manipulated. I do not accept the position of any tech company which tells me it is a question of user manipulation or bad actors. I do not accept that. They created the technology. Due diligence is required here. Standards are required.”
“We all have a desire to get this right and to protect our citizens. I encourage the Senator and everyone here to have a look at the paper we published through the Department. It was drawn up by experts in the field who are not influenced by anybody. It had four very clear recommendations. I probably will not remember them all now but the most important one, which I think will speak to all the Senators’ points this evening, was that legislation be brought forward on prohibited practices during the European Presidency and we are working to do that. That would broaden the protections for our citizens. That was the council’s recommendation to me and I will act on it. Another recommendation was that there should be a campaign. Long before she was here, Senator Harmon was a great campaigner and advocate, and she continues that work here.”
“I am happy to see that the European Commission has moved forward and is investigating what happened not only in Ireland but across the 27 member states. I firmly believe the Commission acting on this sends a very powerful message globally about what our values are as European citizens. I remind everyone in the House that we have established an AI advisory council. It was established before my time as a Minister of State in the Department. Its members are great people. They are experts. These are people from education, with law backgrounds and from industry. They are real experts. It is headed up by Dr. Patricia Scanlon. If do not know if the Senator has heard of her or spoken or listened to her, but she is a woman of a very high moral compass. That is something we all have in this room.”
“I ask Senators to consider that taking enforcement steps and ensuring that companies like X are held to account has to be much stronger if it is done by the European Union and the Commission rather than by little old Ireland on its own. That is not to say that we are in any way trying to walk away from our responsibilities – absolutely not. The job of Coimisiún na Meán on behalf of the nation and the Government is to ensure all the information is gathered. That takes time. I wish it could be done yesterday. I wish it could be done with the immediacy of having it the minute it happens, but unfortunately we do not have that. I do not think any country can say it does. I promise that I am not meeting these agencies for the sake of meeting them. I am meeting them to see that action is being taken.”