Written answers

Wednesday, 18 September 2024

Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

Artificial Intelligence

Photo of Matt CarthyMatt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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352. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if her Department has a policy, or has issued guidance to staff on the use of artificial intelligence, large language model, natural language processing, generative or otherwise, or products based thereon in the course of their duties; if this has been communicated to staff; if she will publish same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36150/24]

Photo of Catherine MartinCatherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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The Department is guided by relevant legislation, policies and the National Cyber Security Centre in respect of all matters related to the use or operation of AI. All applications and platforms used or operated by my Department must be in line with relevant policies and be consistent with advice provided by the National Cyber Security Centre. The EU Artificial Intelligence (AI) Act, which recently entered into force on 01 August 2024 has direct effect in all Member States.

Future central Government guidance supporting the implementation of the Act, policies and cross-government engagement will continue to inform the Department’s approach to the use of AI.

Photo of Matt CarthyMatt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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353. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if her Department, or any agency under her auspices, has ever used any artificial intelligence software in the preparation of response to parliamentary questions, or in responses to any correspondence from outside the organisation; the details of same if applicable; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36169/24]

Photo of Catherine MartinCatherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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I am advised that officials from my Department have not used artificial intelligence software in the preparation of responses to parliamentary questions or in response to any correspondence from outside the Department.

The use of software or applications in my Department must be in line with all relevant Department policies, and consistent with advice provided by the National Cyber Security Centre.

I am not aware of any use of artificial intelligence by any agency within the remit of my Department in the preparation of responses as referred to in the question. More generally, the use of such software would be an operational matter for the respective agency.

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