Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 November 2023
60. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth what engagement he has had on the issue of artificial intelligence in the areas of child protection; and if he will provide the research papers, if any, undertaken by his Department on the matter. [48534/23]
View answerAs set out clearly in the provisions of the Children First Act 2015, responsibility for child protection lies with all sectors and reflecting this my Department leads the Children First Interdepartmental Group through which sectors report and update on their work and emerging challenges are discussed and responded to as appropriate.
To date this group has not considered the matter of artificial intelligence directly. A review of the Children First Guidance is planned to commence in 2024 and in that context the contribution or otherwise of AI to child protection may be considered.
Separately my Department is participating on a working group with Tusla to look at the matter of institutional and organisational abuse. The group has recently commissioned research to inform it's work which will identify internal and external environmental factors that facilitate or support organisational abuse and organised abuse, and this will extend to the influence of the online environment. The timeline for completion of this research is not yet known.
