AI Minister Niamh Smyth TD: Ireland can be an international leader in AI

As the first Minister of State designated with a specific portfolio concerning Artificial Intelligence, I am proud to share my vision that Ireland becomes an international leader in AI to the benefit of our enterprises, public services and most importantly our people, through a human-centred, ethical approach to AI development, adoption, and use, writes Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Artificial Intelligence and Digital Transformation, Niamh Smyth TD.

My appointment reflects the Government’s recognition that AI requires dedicated focus – not just as an economic opportunity but as a societal transformation that must be managed thoughtfully.

The new Programme for Government contains key digital commitments including:

• updating the National Digital Strategy to bring together digital policy and regulatory responsibilities;
• transforming our public services by applying the latest technologies and maximising the potential benefits of AI to better plan for and deliver services, through the establishment of a single digital unit; empowering people to access public services easily, whether online or in person;
• ensuring the integration of digital services across departments as an alternative user access channel, including through the life events approach and Digital Wallet;
• specific sectoral commitments, in particular in health (including an AI in Health Strategy), and justice/Courts Service reform;
• strengthening cybersecurity; and
• commitments on online safety, in particular in relation to children and young people.

It is clear that AI has become a major part of the national conversation. It has captured headlines and sparked real public debate. I have been meeting various stakeholders, listening to businesses – big and small, entrepreneurs, educators, and civil society. I must also mention the invaluable insight and expertise of the AI Advisory Council. The Council’s report with high-level recommendations to the Government is very timely and is currently being considered.

In my short time as minister, I have learned that AI is a transformative force that has the potential to reshape our economy, society, and daily lives. There are fantastic opportunities for efficiency and productivity improvements. I have been impressed that there is so much already being progressed across the public sector for example on the MyGovID platform, the immigration services website, the Companies Registration Office, to name but a few.

“We are at a pivotal juncture to solidify our position as a significant player in the global AI ecosystem.”
Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Artificial Intelligence and Digital Transformation, Niamh Smyth TD

The pace of development has been breathtaking and there is now a global race to harness AI capabilities. We are in a good position because Ireland has had a National AI Strategy in place since 2021, even before the increase in awareness of AI and the major developments in ground-breaking large language models. This strategy was refreshed in 2024 to reflect these developments and to also take account of the regulation now in force, namely the EU AI Act.

The new strategy is a roadmap for the future. It sets out a whole-of-government approach to putting the necessary enablers in place to underpin AI adoption in enterprise and public services, including a supportive innovation ecosystem, a secure data and connectivity infrastructure, and policies to ensure that the workforce is prepared for the impact of AI.

I am determined that AI benefits all enterprises, and my priority is to drive AI adoption, particularly in small and medium-sized businesses, with targeted supports through our agencies. One of the biggest opportunities around AI deployment is driving productivity gains and competitiveness in our indigenous SMEs. Our ambition is that 75 per cent of all enterprises will be using cloud, AI and big data by 2030.

The benefits are clear. AI is a powerful tool that can future-proof business, help enterprises to remain competitive, transform business processes and improve productivity. Simply put, AI can save business owners time and money and give them the freedom to focus on growth. I want every business to get a fair shot at using AI to grow, compete, and thrive.

Every technological shift alters the types of skills we need and AI is no different. Ireland’s workforce is our best asset. We want to ensure that we have the talent and skills necessary to reap the benefits of AI. Enterprises will need to be proactive in upskilling their workforce to develop the AI skills and knowledge necessary to leverage the technology. This is not just an investment in people, it is an investment in competitiveness and in the future of a business.

I am acutely aware of the fear out there that AI has the potential to undermine Irish jobs. While that is understandable, our ambition is that the use of AI will empower workers but not replace them. Of course there will be changes, but we are agile, and we can adapt.

Ireland is implementing the EU AI Act, the first comprehensive legal framework for AI anywhere in the world. It is designed to provide a high level of protection to people’s health, safety, and fundamental rights and to simultaneously promote the adoption of human-centric, trustworthy AI.

I am confident we can create a future where innovation and integrity go hand in hand. But it is critical we work together – government, industry, the research community, and civil society – to harness the opportunities of AI for societal and economic good in Ireland.

We are at a pivotal juncture to solidify our position as a significant player in the global AI ecosystem. We can do this by leveraging our established technology infrastructure, favourable business environment, highly educated workforce, strategic investments, and our commitment to responsible AI governance which is anchored in EU frameworks.

Supporting AI innovation through policies, funding and incentives is my priority. As we navigate this transformation, we must remember that technology will not determine our future – our choices do.