Current position
Overview
AI legislation has been enacted.
Key legislation & sources
EU AI Act (Regulation 2024/1689)
Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment — designated single point of contact
EU AI Act National Implementation Tracker
AI — Here for Good: National AI Strategy
Council of Europe Framework Convention on AI (CETS 225)
EU AI ACT
The EU AI Act (Regulation 2024/1689) applies directly across all member states. Prohibitions on unacceptable-risk AI systems have been in force since 2 February 2025; GPAI model rules since 2 August 2025. High-risk AI obligations are due from 2 August 2026, subject to the Digital Omnibus proposal which may defer enforcement. For the full implementation timeline, governance structure, and current status, see the European Union overview.
Market surveillance and notifying authorities were designated by S.I. No. 366/2025 in September 2025. Ireland is the EU base of operations for major AI developers including Meta, Google and TikTok, giving Irish authorities heightened cross-border oversight responsibilities under the Act's one-stop-shop mechanism.
Regulatory developments
Latest updates
Latest event import:
Updates sourced from Digital Policy Alert ↗. The latest available entries for this jurisdiction.
Court practice direction takes effect
Circuit Court Practice Direction CC34 takes effect
Source: Digital Policy Alert
CC34 applies to Irish Circuit Court civil and criminal proceedings from 21 September 2026. It restricts generative AI use in substantive witness evidence and requires declarations, acknowledgment and verification appropriate to the document type. It also addresses expert reports, restricted information and suspected breaches, with possible procedural, costs and professional consequences.
announcement
Data Protection Commission opened investigation into X over alleged generation and publication of non-consensual sexualised images
Source: Digital Policy Alert · View update ↗
On 17 February 2026, the Irish Data Protection Commission (DPC) announced that it had opened an investigation into X Internet Unlimited Company (XIUC) under Section 110 of the Data Protection Act 2018. The investigation concerns the alleged creation and publication on the X platform of potentially harmful, non-consensual, intimate and/or sexualised images involving the processing of the personal data of EU/EEA data subjects (including children) using generative artificial intelligence functionality associated with the Grok large language model. XIUC was notified of the decision to commence the inquiry on 16 February 2026. The investigation will examine whether XIUC has complied with its obligations under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), including the processing principles, the lawfulness of processing, data protection by design and by default, and the requirement to carry out a data protection impact assessment in relation to the personal data processed.
drafting
Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment issued General Scheme of Regulation of Artificial Intelligence Bill
Source: Digital Policy Alert · View update ↗
On 4 February 2024, the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment issued the General Scheme of the Regulation of Artificial Intelligence Bill 2026. The scheme supports the implementation of the EU Artificial Intelligence Act (2024/1689). Part 2 outlines the establishment of the AI Office of Ireland (the “Office”). The Office will be formally established on a day appointed by the Minister and will operate as an independent corporate body with legal powers. Its functions include facilitating the enforcement of the AI Act, promoting AI innovation and literacy, and serving as the national AI market surveillance authority and single point of contact under EU law. As the Single Point of Contact, it will centrally coordinate Ireland's implementation of the AI Act by advising national authorities, leading EU-level engagement, and facilitating domestic cooperation. Chapter 3 establishes a coordinated national framework where the Office centralises reporting, issues guidelines, and hosts a forum for Market Surveillance Authorities (MSAs). It details procedures for handling serious incident reports, authorising AI systems in exceptional circumstances, and investigating rights-based concerns upon request. The provisions also facilitate cooperation between authorities, outline complaint and data-sharing mechanisms, and mandate confidentiality and cybersecurity measures. Head 53 establishes the procedure for when an MSA suspects an AI system presents a risk, requiring an evaluation with special attention to vulnerable groups and cooperation with fundamental rights bodies if needed. Head 54 outlines the process for when an MSA believes a provider has misclassified a high-risk AI system as non-high-risk. If the system is confirmed as high-risk, the provider must bring it into compliance, or the MSA will enforce penalties, including withdrawal or prohibition from the market.
introduction
Online Safety (Recommender Algorithms) Bill 2026 was introduced to the lower house of the Irish parliament
Source: Digital Policy Alert · View update ↗
On 22 January 2026, the Online Safety (Recommender Algorithms) Bill 2026 (Bill No. 7 of 2026) including recommender algorithm regulation was introduced to the lower house of Parliament. The Bill seeks to amend the Online Safety and Media Regulation Act 2022 to restrict the use of recommender systems by video-sharing platform services operating in Ireland. The Bill would prohibit video-sharing platform services from deploying recommender systems where the service provider is aware that the recipient has not reached the age of 18, or where the age of the recipient is unknown. The Bill would also prohibit the use of recommender systems based on profiling or on special categories of personal data under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) for users over 18, unless the user has actively selected such a system, has been provided with clear and intelligible information on its main parameters, and has access to a functionality allowing modification of that system at any time. The Bill would further direct the Minister for Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport to instruct Coimisiún na Meán to amend the Online Safety Code accordingly. The Bill would enter into force within 90 days of promulgation by the President.
closure
Parliamentary Joint Committee on Artificial Intelligence published first interim report
Source: Digital Policy Alert · View update ↗
On 16 December 2025, the parliamentary Joint Committee on Artificial Intelligence published its first interim report, which includes 85 recommendations. The Joint Committee's recommendations cover measures to institutionalise AI governing bodies, including establishing the Joint Committee itself on a permanent basis, ensuring the full independence of the national AI Office, developing a national AI register, permanently establishing the AI Advisory Council, and founding an AI Observatory. The recommendations also address the regulatory framework at the EU level, warning against the dilution of the EU AI Act and stressing the need to strengthen the EU Copyright Directive. Further, the Joint Committee proposes specific obligations for AI providers and deployers, such as switching off recommendation system by default, banning social media providers from using recommender algorithms on children's accounts, require platform owners to prevent the use of recommendation systems for misinformation campaigns, and introducing mandatory algorithmic impact assessments for high-risk AI systems in public services.
Showing 5 of 16 available API entries. Dates and summaries are supplied by Digital Policy Alert.