The AI Act, which entered into force in August 2024, attempts to tackle some of the risks emerging from the technology while letting the bloc benefit from its economic potential.
A bill to enforce the EU’s AI Act in Ireland has been approved. Once enacted, the Regulation of Artificial Intelligence Bill 2026 will establish ‘Oifig IS na hÉireann’ – or the AI Office of Ireland – as an independent statutory body which will act as Ireland’s central coordinating authority to implement the landmark EU legislation on AI.
The AI Act, which entered into force in August 2024, attempts to tackle some of the risks emerging from this technology while letting the bloc benefit from its economic potential.
The law applies in a risk-based and phased manner across all EU member states, imposing obligations on providers, deployers and importers of AI systems and models. Last month, the EU published draft guidelines for what it considers ‘high-risk’ AI systems.
Meanwhile, the new bill approved by the Government is only a technical regulation needed for the supervision and enforcement of the EU AI Act and does not add to Ireland’s existing obligations. It comes as Ireland readies to assume presidency over the Council of the European Union from 1 July to 31 December this year.
The Irish bill provides market surveillance authorities (MSAs) in the country with an enforcement toolkit for the AI Act, enabling them to issue compliance notes and fines, or even prosecute entities. As one of the MSAs, the Irish Competition and Consumer Protection Commission is also introducing a new general administrative sanctions procedure.
“AI is a transformative technology which offers extraordinary potential for our economy and citizens, but requires appropriate oversight and accountability to ensure people are protected,” said Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Peter Burke, TD.
“This bill delivers this approach. It fulfils Ireland’s EU obligations, giving effect to pioneering AI regulation in domestic law, while ensuring we have the national infrastructure to enforce it effectively.
“The bill establishes the AI Office of Ireland as a strong, independent institution at the centre of our AI regulatory system and empowers our competent authorities with the investigative and sanctions tools they need.”
Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Artificial Intelligence and Digital Transformation Niamh Smyth, TD said: “This bill is about more than regulation. It is about building the institutional foundations for a future in which AI works for people, ethically, transparently and accountably.
“The establishment of the AI Office of Ireland will give us a world-class focal point for AI regulation, innovation and expertise. Ireland is a key player in the global AI ecosystem, home to many of the world’s leading foundational AI model providers.”
While broadly considered to be a first of its kind, the EU AI Act faces a number of emerging challenges in its implementation, one of them being the launch (and subsequent blockade) of Anthropic’s Mythos and Fable models in Europe, which prompted experts to question how the Act might control risks emerging from foreign-created and deployed AI technology.
The bloc, on the other hand, is also attempting to remedy some of the AI law’s supposed over-regulation by way of a simplified and consolidated set of rules.
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