Malcolm Byrne (Wicklow-Wexford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I congratulate my good friend and colleague, Deputy Niamh Smyth, on her appointment and wish her well. Right throughout the programme for Government, the increased emphasis on artificial intelligence and digitalisation is very positive. However, it is essential that it does not just fall on the Minister of State's shoulders.

It is critical that we have a whole-of-government approach to unlock the potential of new technology. As the Taoiseach has said, in many ways what we are experiencing with AI is the 21st century's Industrial Revolution. It will transform everything we do. I am an optimist by nature and I believe that we should be focusing on the opportunities as to how tech can improve our lives, our health outcomes and, indeed, workplace efficiencies.

We cannot have innovation without safety, as a number of colleagues have said. I totally agree with Deputy Donnelly when he said that we have to address the digital divide and ensure that citizens are not left behind.

As the Minister of State said, AI is not a new concept but the speed at which the change is happening, notwithstanding some of the hype, really is breathtaking. Indeed, Dario Amodei, the co-founder and CEO of Anthropic, said recently that we may achieve artificial general intelligence by 2027. That may be a little optimistic but I would be quite certain over the lifetime of this Oireachtas that we will see very significant changes.

What I would like to focus on today is the State's response and some of the things I believe we need to do. I have long called for Oireachtas hearings - indeed, a special committee on AI and new tech - to stimulate public debate on issues related to artificial intelligence. I totally agree with the Minister of State about training for all TDs and Senators on the use of AI. The national artificial intelligence strategy, AI - Here for Good, is an excellent document, but one of our problems with these is that quite often we say the right things and we do not follow through. The Minister of State will be aware I tabled a parliamentary question last month to all Departments and agencies on their use of AI and, to be honest, with some notable exceptions in health, Revenue and the cross-Border Loughs Agency, there was not a lot of proactivity. There was limited engagement beyond acting on the advice of the NCSE and some training that was happening. Indeed, the opening line from the Department of enterprise in response was, "A policy document on the use of Generative AI was issued to all staff in my Department setting out the risks of using such technologies and the mitigations they must adopt to avoid those risks." That was not, in my view, a proactive approach.

During Ireland's EU Presidency, we need to talk about artificial intelligence and digital leadership in Europe. It is critical those themes are front and centre. We need to indicate that earlier. While there has to be a strong emphasis on safety in EU regulation, it cannot be overly burdensome. We have to continue to encourage innovation in this space.

On the broader debate, which I agree with my Labour Party colleagues needs to be linked with the debate on renewable energy, data centres are critical. We have to have the debate on renewable energy, data centres and powering the grid. They are all interrelated. If the Labour Party wants a moratorium on data centres, we can take more seriously some of its calls in this space when it also has a moratorium on its use of social media. Data centres are critical drivers. I would encourage the party to look at Echelon, for instance, and some of the plans it has for new data centres just outside Arklow.

The Department has a number of responsibilities in The Government Response to Ireland’s Competitiveness Challenge 2024. The Department has been challenged to commission research on the impact of AI and key technologies on the Irish economy and to engage in a campaign of AI adoption for SMEs. It is important we hear more about the responses in those areas.

As we have said and we have been talking about, this will be transformative. There is a critical role for all Departments, particularly, I believe and as has been mentioned, the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, which cannot only be an administrative Department. Robots will not replace workers but the reality is workers who use artificial intelligence will replace workers who do not. In those circumstances, it is critical we upskill everybody in our society and that we have that debate.

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