Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 July 2023
410. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will outline the work being done by the IDA to address concerns around issues such as AI, social media algorithms, disinformation and cybersecurity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37142/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraIDA Ireland’s current strategy aims to realise opportunities from the digital transformation along with those arising from new business models, an enhanced focus on operational resilience, supply chain reconfiguration and the future of work.
IDA Ireland has identified Artificial Intelligence (AI) as an area of specific opportunity and promotes the adoption of AI among its client base to further their efficiency and digital ambitions. However, the agency does not have a specific role in assessing the trustworthiness of AI systems.
While IDA Ireland does not have specific workstreams to address concerns around issues such as AI, social media algorithms, disinformation and cybersecurity, the agency does participate in a number of Government fora addressing these matters. In particular, IDA Ireland is represented on the Enterprise Digital Advisory Forum, established by my Department in 2022. This Forum brings together representatives of indigenous enterprise of all sizes, multinational enterprises, and experts in digital technologies involved in their adoption by enterprise. The Forum has an agreed Work Programme for 2023 which covers five workstreams including awareness raising, driving digitalisation in enterprise and outreach; advancing AI in Ireland; Digital Inclusion, Skills, GovTech and Cybersecurity.
IDA is also directly engaged in driving the national digital strategy, “Harnessing Digital – The Digital Ireland Framework Strategy", through supports for their clients. The aim of this strategy is to drive and enable the digital transition across Irish economy and society.
The agency also engages with the individual member companies of Cyber Ireland, the national cybersecurity cluster, working on their continued development and expansion. The enterprise agencies will work with this cluster and the National Cyber Security Centre to help meet national obligations under EU law with a focus on creating a vibrant national cybersecurity ecosystem that is engaged with communities in other EU Member States.
