A NEW State watchdog is needed to police the use of AI with this game-changing tech set to be used in hospitals, to catch welfare cheats and run self-driving cars in the near future, it has been claimed.
Fianna Fail today proposed a new bill that would create the National Artificial Intelligence Office to regulate the use of this booming tech in areas across the country.
Artificial intelligence is already in use in many industries in Ireland.
A report from recruitment firm Morgan McKinley this week highlighting that big finance firms have reduced the number of graduates they are hiring here due to the boom of AI.
The Government has been encouraging the use of AI in specific areas in the civil service, while also courting big tech giants behind the tools to set up here in Ireland.
Amid the growth in AI, Fianna Fail TD Naoise O’Cearuil has put forward legislation to set up a national watchdog that would regulate and police the use of this tech.
The National Artificial Intelligence Office Bill 2026 would create a body that would have the power to investigate complaints, suspend AI systems and fine those found to be breaching rules.
This would be headed up by an independent Commissioner in a similar fashion to the Data Protection Commission.
The office would have an annual budget of €25 million in its first five years which would be part-funded by the EU.
A briefing document on the bill details how the watchdog will be needed to police the growth of AI in a range of areas across the country, including health, welfare, and transport.
For example, the Department of Social Protection could use algorithmic fraud detection to catch welfare cheats, while AI could also be used as a diagnostic aid in our hospitals.
Deputy O’Cearuil highlighted the possibility of self-driving cars coming to the streets of Ireland in the near future with similar autonomous vehicles already on the roads in American cities such as San Francisco.
‘RAPID RISE’
He told the Irish Sun: “We’ve seen the rapid rise of artificial intelligence not just nationally here in Ireland but also internationally and the key component is that citizens remain safe.
“So as a regulator this would ensure that things such as healthcare or autonomous vehicles for example would be covered and would be independently regulated.
“It would also act as an enabler as well.
“We see many stories where there has been job displacement – what’s important is that SMEs, students and graduates are best placed to go into the workplace and have the skills to use AI and not to be replaced by AI.”
The bill was raised in the Dail today with Tanaiste Simon Harris stating that the Government will give it consideration.
