The AI Advisory Council launched a report on key AI recommendations on 21 February. The Council, established by former Minister of State for Digital Dara Calleary, was tasked with providing expert advice and guidance on AI policy to the government. The report, ‘Ireland’s AI Advisory Council Recommendations – Helping to Shape Ireland’s AI Future’, focused on six key areas.
- AI and the Future of Skills and Work
The report recommended the development of an “AI Observatory” to provide data and insights on labour market dynamics, capital flows, skills development or quality of life enhancement. This would assist policymakers with understanding the changes which are occurring in the labour market and various sectors as a result of AI advancements
- AI Ecosystem
Secondly, the report recommended prioritising the commercialisation of R&D by establishing an AI-focused start-up ecosystem, speeding up funding reviews, developing a national AI testbed, and setting up an Irish AI office. Ireland’s strong R&D start-up culture and business-friendly environment provide a solid foundation for these initiatives. However, maintaining this momentum and ensuring ongoing progress will require a coordinated ‘whole-of-government’ approach.
- AI Literacy and Education
The report emphasised the importance of promoting AI literacy at all levels of education through professional development programmes and access to AI tools. Ireland must cultivate a future workforce capable of supporting and sustaining advancements in the field. By modernising the country’s workforce and building on existing strengths through upskilling, Ireland can ensure long-term competitiveness.
- AI Sovereignty and Infrastructure
Furthermore, Ireland should build its indigenous AI capabilities. Establishing AI sovereignty is critical for the country, especially as global trends increasingly lean toward protectionism. Building a strong domestic AI ecosystem is vital to reducing dependence on foreign technology and boosting national competitiveness.
To address these challenges, the report proposes creating an “AI Energy Council” to fast-track the expansion of grid network capacity. Currently, grid constraints, delays in installing new generators, and postponed essential maintenance are holding back progress. The council would focus on identifying bottlenecks, developing policies to expand the grid, integrating energy storage solutions, and accelerating renewable energy projects. These steps are vital to ensuring Ireland can support the AI data centres needed to sustain the ongoing advancement of AI technologies.
Additionally, AI is essential for protecting national data assets. With cybersecurity threats increasing, AI plays a crucial role in developing a robust cyber ecosystem that can identify critical public data resources while maintaining privacy and security.
- Biometrics & the Public Service
This section discussed the introduction of Facial Recognition Technology into law enforcement, which the report classified as “high-risk”. To integrate FRT, robust legislation is required.
- AI and Ireland’s Creative Sector
The report recommended that the government consider Ireland’s copyright laws and licensing regime to determine whether the current legislation can address the challenges posed by AI disruption.
