Artificial Intelligence

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 22 January 2025

Wednesday, 22 January 2025

Questions (1721, 1728)

Malcolm Byrne

Question:

1721. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department and agencies under the aegis of his Department have policies on the use of artificial intelligence within the Department and those agencies; whether training has been provided to staff on the use of AI; if the Department has used AI (including large language models) in the preparation of legislation or statutory instruments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1486/25]

Malcolm Byrne

Question:

1728. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department and agencies under the aegis of his Department have policies on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) within the Department and those agencies; whether training has been provided to staff on the use of AI; if his Department has used AI, including large language models, in the preparation of legislation or statutory instruments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1582/25]

Written answers

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1721 and 1728 together.

My Department and officials do not use artificial intelligence (AI) to generate official text. My Department will continue to monitor developments in relation to AI, in particular with regard to potential applications that may be identified by other Government Departments and whether specific training is appropriate.

The information in respect of aegis bodies, within the scope of the Deputy’s question, is not held by my Department. Contact details for these bodies are set out in the attached document, should the Deputy wish to contact the aegis bodies directly with their query.

Contact E-Mail Addresses for State Bodies under the Remit of the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science

Name of Body	Dedicated Email address for the Members of the Oireachtas	Designated Official Responsible for assisting Oireachtas Members
Higher Education Authority	[e-mail]	Trevor Purtill
Grangegorman Development Agency	[e-mail]	[e-mail]
SOLAS	[e-mail]	Maria Walsh [e-mail]
Skillnets Ireland	[e-mail]	[e-mail]
Quality and Qualifications Ireland	[e-mail]	[e-mail]
Léargas – The Exchange Bureau	[e-mail]	[e-mail]
Research Ireland	[e-mail]	Donna McCabe