Erin McGreehan: Ireland needs a National AI Office
Erin McGreehan speaks in support of the AI Bill and welcomes the establishment of a statutory AI office. She urges that the office become a national coordination hub to drive AI literacy, skills development and safe deployment across Ireland.
Overview
Erin McGreehan outlines why the Bill matters now: AI is already embedded in how people live, work and learn, and the legislation creates a framework to meet obligations without adding new burdens beyond existing EU rules. She emphasises that the new AI office must do more than regulate; it should link public services, education providers and industry to build capacity nationwide.
Role of the AI office
McGreehan argues the office should work closely with Skillnet Ireland, Enterprise Ireland, local enterprise offices, higher and further education providers, schools and industry partners. As Chair of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science she says a coordinated approach will accelerate adoption and ensure consistent standards across sectors.
Skills, inclusion and safety
The speech stresses the need for AI literacy and practical skills for workers and students, supported through mechanisms such as the National Training Fund. McGreehan calls for transparency, accountability and inclusion at the heart of AI deployment, with particular attention to accessibility, disability inclusion and the protection of children and vulnerable people.
Regulation and consequences
She insists that technology companies must be properly regulated and high-risk AI systems carefully monitored. If Ireland invests in people and trust, AI can improve public services, boost productivity and deliver breakthroughs in research, healthcare and education; without that investment, benefits will not be realised.
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Thank you Deputy, and Deputy MacRaehan. Diolch yn fawr am y cyfle i siarad am adroddiad y Bil Ardifysgol, ac rwy'n gobeithio i'ch Prif Weinidog am ddod ymlaen at un pysau pwysig o leisleisio. A chroeso i chi a'r holl gwaith rydych chi'n ei wneud yn eich brif, ac rwy'n gobeithio i chi'r holl ffordd i gynyddu cymdeithas yn yr ardal hon. Mae'r ddealltwriaeth ardifysgol, fel rydym i gyd gwybod, yn newid sut rydym yn byw, gweithio, dysgu a chysylltu â'r holl gwasanaethau. Mae'r ddealltwriaeth yn rhoi cyfleoedd mawr mewn adroddiadau iechyd, addysg, gwyddoniaeth, gweithredu busnes a chynhyrchu. Ond mae'r cyfleoedd hynny'n dod â chyfleoedd sylweddol. Mae'r Bil hwn yn rhoi fframwaith sy'n anodd i weithredu a chynhyrchu y Deyrnas Unedigol Ardifysgol y DU yng Nghymru. Mae'n sefydlu'r swydd AI yng Nghymru fel sefydliad arbenigol, sefydliad statwriaethol, ac yn sicrhau bod cyfathrebu, cyfathrebu a chynhyrchu mecanismau ar gael. Importantly, it does not create additional burdens beyond those already under EU law, but rather ensures that Ireland can meet its obligations effectively. As Chair of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, I particularly welcome the establishment of the AI office. I believe its role should be extended beyond regulation alone. The office should become a national co-ordination hub, working closely with organisations like Skillnet Ireland, Enterprise Ireland, our local enterprise offices, higher education institutions, further education and training providers, schools and industry partners to drive AI awareness, adoption and skills development across the entire society. The reality is that AI is not something for the future, it is already here. Our challenge is to ensure that individuals, businesses, public services and communities are prepared. We need to build AI literacy across the population, so people understand both the opportunities and all the risks. At the same time, we must ensure that workers, students and enterprises have practical skills that are needed to harness the benefits of these technologies. If we get this right, AI can help us improve public services, support innovation, increase productivity and deliver breakthroughs in research, healthcare and education. But those benefits will only be realised if we invest in people and equip them with the confidence and the skills to engage with AI effectively. We must ensure transparency, accountability and inclusion remain at the heart of all our approaches. New technology must empower people, not exclude them. That means paying particular attention to accessibility, disability inclusion, equal opportunities as AI systems become embedded in everyday life. AI must always serve the public good. Innovation cannot come at the expense of public trust. Child safety are the rights of vulnerable people. Technology companies must be properly regulated and high-risk AI systems carefully monitored. We must also ensure that workers whose jobs may be affected by AI are supported to retrain and adapt, including through the greater use of the National Training Fund to provide flexible upskilling and reskilling opportunities. Ireland has a huge opportunity. I'm hugely ambitious for our role in this. We can be a leader not only in AI innovation but also in AI readiness. This legislation is a really important step in building the foundations for that future and I'm very pleased to support it. Thank you Minister.
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