Ireland Publishes AI Bill with New Governance Framework

Ireland published the Regulation of Artificial Intelligence Bill 2026 on 17 June 2026, establishing a comprehensive national framework for artificial intelligence regulation aligned with EU requirements.

The Bill is structured with 10 Parts, 139 Sections, and 4 Schedules, creating a detailed legislative foundation for AI governance across the jurisdiction.

New AI Office Established as Central Authority

The Bill establishes Oifig IS na hÉireann (AI Office of Ireland) as an independent statutory body. This office will serve as Ireland’s central coordinating authority for implementation of the EU AI Act.

National Competent Authorities Designated

Ireland designated 15 national competent authorities under the AI Act in September 2025, distributing enforcement and oversight responsibilities across the regulatory landscape.

Enforcement Toolkit for Market Surveillance

The Bill empowers Market Surveillance Authorities with an enforcement toolkit that progresses from cooperative compliance notices to coercive measures. This includes prohibition, seizure, and formal sanctions with fines and prosecution.

Context: EU AI Act Rollout

These measures implement the EU AI Act, which entered into force on 1 August 2024, with provisions applying in a phased manner across all EU Member States.

Transparency rules under the AI Act will come into effect in August 2026. Rules for high-risk AI systems used in certain areas—including biometrics, critical infrastructure, education, employment, migration, asylum and border control—will apply from 2 December 2027. For AI systems integrated into products such as lifts or toys, high-risk rules will apply from 2 August 2028.

The AI Act prohibits eight practices including harmful AI-based manipulation and deception, harmful AI-based exploitation of vulnerabilities, social scoring, and real-time remote biometric identification for law enforcement in publicly accessible spaces. Prohibition of AI systems that generate non-consensual sexually explicit and intimate content or child sexual abuse material has also been agreed as an amendment to the AI Act.

Source: Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment (Ireland)