Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 July 2019
992. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the status of the development of Ireland’s first national artificial intelligence strategy as committed to under Future Jobs Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32429/19]
View answerFuture Jobs Ireland 2019, published in March last, includes the commitment to develop a National AI Strategy for Ireland.
My Department is leading on the development of this cross-Government Strategy, which is expected to provide a high-level direction to the development and deployment of AI in Ireland. It is anticipated that the Strategy will be finalised by end 2019.
Without prejudicing the outcome of this process, it is expected that the Strategy will set out how Ireland plans to engage with the dynamic advances in AI technologies and systems, building on the country’s existing ecosystem and capabilities. It will present an integrated, cross-Government framework to manage the expected changes to the overall benefit of society.
It is envisaged that the Strategy will be aligned with, and contribute to, the wider EU approach as outlined in the EU Coordinated Plan on AI, as well as ensuring consistency with the OECD Principles on AI adopted in May 2019.
Consultations on development of the National AI Strategy have commenced and will continue throughout the Summer and early Autumn. A consultation meeting with DBEI agencies took place on 22 May last, followed by a consultation with Government departments on 17 June. Next steps in the AI Strategy development process include consultation with industry representative bodies and with academia as well as an online public consultation to be announced in August.
