16th September 2025
Ministers Burke and Smyth announce landmark progress in AI Act implementation
Ireland has taken a major leap forward in the rollout of the EU Artificial Intelligence (AI) Act, becoming one of the first six Member States to reach the critical milestone of designating the competent authorities which will be responsible for enforcement of the Act.
Speaking today, Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke, confirmed the designation of 15 National Competent Authorities under the AI Act.
Minister Burke said:
“Ireland is building a future where AI is transformative, trusted, and transparent. We’re balancing innovation with safeguards—ensuring AI works for people, not against them.”
This distributed model builds on Ireland’s strong regulatory foundations and reflects the country’s commitment to responsible innovation and ethical AI adoption.
A national single point of contact has also been established within the department to streamline coordination between Irish regulators, the European Commission, and stakeholders. The Single Point of Contact serves as the interface with the public, other Member States, and EU-level counterparts with its purpose to streamline communication and coordination for the implementation and enforcement of the AI Act.
This milestone follows the government’s earlier designation of nine public authorities tasked with protecting fundamental rights under the AI Act. These bodies will be empowered to oversee high-risk AI systems and ensure citizens’ rights are upheld.
Today Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Artificial Intelligence and Digital Transformation, Niamh Smyth, welcomed all 15 newly designated authorities to the National AI Implementation Committee which meets on 16 September 2025.
Minister Smyth described the Committee as a vital forum for collaboration as Ireland’s AI regulatory framework is rolled out over the next 12 months:
“This is about leadership with purpose. We’re creating a system that protects the vulnerable, empowers innovators, and positions Ireland as a global hub for ethical AI. The successful implementation of the AI act requires collaboration, co-operation and collective responsibility amongst all stakeholders.”
Looking ahead, a National AI Office will be established by 2 August 2026 to act as the central coordinating authority for the AI Act in Ireland. It will:
- co-ordinate Competent Authority activities to ensure consistent implementation of the EU AI Act
- serve as the single point of contact for the EU AI Act
- facilitate centralised access to technical expertise by the other competent authorities, as required
- drive AI innovation and adoption through the hosting of a regulatory sandbox, and act as a focal point for AI in Ireland, encompassing regulation, innovation and deployment
Minister Smyth continued:
“The National AI Office will act as a focal point for responsible AI in Ireland. Its establishment will demonstrate Ireland’s continued commitment to leadership in AI”.
Minister Burke concluded:
“AI is disruptive—but it’s also an opportunity to drive innovation across our economy and society. Ireland’s ambition is to lead globally in AI adoption, anchored in collaboration, ethical standards and proportionate regulation.”
ENDS
Editor’s notes
Ireland has adopted a distributed model of competent authorities for the EU AI Act, with a designated central authority to provide coordination and a number of centralised functions. The principle of the distributed model means that any new regulatory function must be aligned with existing policy remits and areas of responsibility/expertise and incorporated within existing regulatory structures to maintain regulatory coherence and efficiency.
Ireland has to date designated 15 national competent authorities for oversight and enforcement of the EU AI ACT in Ireland and are as follows:
- Central Bank of Ireland
- Coimisiún na Meán
- Commission for Communications Regulation
- Commission for Railway Regulation
- Commission for Regulation of Utilities
- Competition and Consumer Protection Commission
- Data Protection Commission
- Health and Safety Authority
- Health Products Regulatory Authority
- Health Services Executive
- Marine Survey Office of the Department of Transport
- Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment
- Minister for Transport
- National Transport Authority
- Workplace Relations Commission
With the distributed model comes the need for effective governance and oversight of the EU AI Act to ensure coherence and effective implementation of the Act. Providing the strategic governance of the Act and co-ordinating the activities of all relevant departments, offices, agencies and Market Surveillance Authorities (MSAs) to ensure efficient, consistent and uniform interpretation and implementation of the AI Act.
A new National AI Office will be established to act as the central and co-ordinating authority for the EU AI act in Ireland. Drive AI innovation and adoption through the hosting of a regulatory sandbox and act as a focal point for responsible AI in Ireland, encompassing regulation, innovation and deployment.
The European Commission published the General Purpose AI (GPAI) Code of Practice, which is a voluntary guide designed to help organisation comply with the GPAI provisions in the EU AI Act. The Code covers the topics of Transparency, Copyright, and Safety and Security.
A set of Guidelines to accompany the Code of Practice was published by the Commission on 18 July.
A ‘General-Purpose AI model’ is an AI model that displays significant power and generality and is capable of competently performing a wide range of distinct tasks and that can be integrated into a variety of downstream systems or applications.
The purpose of the Code is that AI model providers who voluntarily sign it can show they comply with the AI Act by adhering the Code. This is expected to reduce their administrative burden and give them more legal certainty than if they proved compliance through other methods.
ENDS
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