Shaping a connected, competitive, and trusted digital Ireland

Ireland aims to adopt AI responsibly, unlock its potential for society and the economy, and shape Europe’s digital future during its presidency of the Council of the European Union, Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Artificial Intelligence and Digital Transformation Niamh Smyth TD writes in eolas Magazine.

Ireland’s approach to artificial intelligence is being shaped in parallel with our global trade ambitions, reflecting the increasingly close relationship between digital capability and international competitiveness.

My focus is on ensuring AI is developed and used in a way that consumers and businesses can trust, while helping companies become more productive and competitive.

This aligns closely with my trade promotion and consumer protection responsibilities, where Ireland’s strong digital skills base, clear regulatory framework, and reputation for responsible innovation help attract investment and support Irish firms to grow in international markets.

Building trust in AI at home therefore also strengthens Ireland’s position abroad as a modern, outward-looking and competitive digital economy.

A digital Ireland for all

Ireland’s new Digital and AI Strategy, Digital Ireland: Connecting our People, Securing our Future, takes a whole-of-government approach to drive digital adoption, with a strong focus on inclusion and accessibility. It sets a clear roadmap for connectivity, digital skills, and modernising public services while strengthening public trust so people can engage confidently in the digital and AI era.
For businesses, this means practical supports to innovate, scale, and compete successfully on a global stage. For citizens, it ensures secure, accessible, and efficient digital interactions. Our goal is a digitally empowered society where technology works for people, not the other way around.

My department will lead key initiatives to accelerate AI adoption, including a sector-focused strategy, AI champions, to showcase best practice, and a business AI readiness observatory to track enterprise adoption. A wide range of supports already exist, and I am planning a review to ensure they meet the evolving needs of Irish businesses.

“My goal is to harness AI to power economic growth, expand Irish business globally, and ensure that we do so in a way that keeps our citizens protected.”

As digital and AI reshape society, it is vital that no one is left behind. That principle has guided the Charter for Digital Inclusion which I launched in 2025. The charter invites businesses, public bodies and community organisations to commit to promoting digital skills, supporting SMEs to adopt new technologies, and helping people get online.

Leading Europe through our presidency

Ireland is a global tech hub at the heart of Europe and as such is well placed to lead meaningful dialogue on the EU’s digital priorities. As part of the presidency of the Council of the European Union 2026, Ireland will host the Informal Telecoms Council in Limerick and the International AI Summit 2026 in Dublin, alongside events showcasing Ireland’s industry partnerships.

The AI Summit on 14 October 2026 will open European AI Innovation Month. This flagship event, will bring together over a thousand EU and global leaders, including heads of government, CEOs, investors, innovators, and academics, under the theme: ‘harnessing ai to revolutionise Europe’s competitiveness’.

As Ireland’s first Minister for AI, I recognise the presidency as a pivotal moment to shape Europe’s digital future, advancing EU policies while supporting a strong union. Anchored in competitiveness, security and resilience, and values, the Irish presidency agenda is very relevant to the EU’s vision for digital transformation. In line with the objectives of the Digital Ireland strategy, Ireland will champion digital innovation, regulatory simplification, and AI-driven growth across the EU.
Responsible and trustworthy AI

I am leading the AI: Good for Business campaign, promoting how AI and digital transformation are revolutionising business while ensuring innovation is responsible and accountable.

Innovation only succeeds when citizens trust the market. My department supports businesses in adopting AI responsibly, guided by the EU AI Act and Digital Services Act, which provide clear rules that build confidence in online and digital services. Our approach champions human-centric AI; and transparent, fair, and accountable systems that enhance decision-making while protecting people and society.

AI’s transformative potential raises important questions about ethics, safety, and societal impact. The EU AI Act, in force from 1 August 2024, is the world’s first comprehensive AI regulatory framework. It promotes innovation while protecting health, safety, and rights, with most obligations applying from 2 August 2026.

Ireland is implementing national measures, including domestic legislation and a national AI Office. The Act classifies AI by risk, banning unacceptable systems, imposing strict obligations on high-risk AI, and requiring transparency for systems that could manipulate or deceive, such as chatbots or deepfakes.

These EU-wide guardrails benefit business by creating legal certainty and consumer trust. Together with strategic investments and initiatives, they position Ireland and Europe as the premier region to build, adopt, and invest in AI.

The AI Office of Ireland

AI is rapidly moving from concept to commonplace, transforming economies and public services. That is why Ireland is establishing the AI Office of Ireland, which will coordinate implementation of the EU AI Act. A distributed model of oversight, comprising of 13 market surveillance authorities and four notifying authorities, ensures sectoral coverage, while draft legislation to formally establish the AI Office is underway.

The office will serve as Ireland’s single point of contact for the EU Act, provide technical expertise, and develop a national regulatory sandbox, combining robust governance with responsible innovation. Building the right team now will be essential to positioning Ireland as a trusted and forward looking leader in AI governance.

I am committed as Minister to ensuring that we seize this moment: harnessing technology, empowering our people, and supporting our businesses to thrive both at home and on the global stage.