Ireland Moves to Establish AI Office Under 2026 Bill to Enforce EU AI Act
Ireland has published the General Scheme of the Regulation of Artificial Intelligence Bill 2026, outlining how the State intends to fully implement and enforce the EU AI Act at the national level.
Released on February 4, the General Scheme details the heads of the proposed legislation, which will give effect to Regulation (EU) 2024/1689, commonly known as the EU AI Act. While the AI Act has direct legal effect across EU member states, national legislation is required to designate supervisory authorities, establish enforcement mechanisms, and provide penalties.
Distributed Model of Competent Authorities
The proposed bill reflects government decisions taken on March 4 and July 22, 2025, confirming Ireland will adopt a distributed model of competent authorities for AI oversight. Under this approach, existing sectoral regulators will supervise AI systems within their domains, while a central authority will coordinate implementation and perform certain overarching functions.
Creation of the AI Office of Ireland
Central to the proposal is the creation of a new statutory independent body, Oifig Intleachta Shaorga na hÉireann — the AI Office of Ireland. The office will operate under the remit of the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment and serve as the State’s Single Point of Contact for the EU AI Act. It will act as the national coordinating authority, ensuring consistent enforcement and cooperation with European counterparts.
Designation of Competent Authorities and Penalties
The General Scheme provides for the formal designation and empowerment of competent authorities, as well as the establishment of penalties for infringements of the AI Act. Officials emphasize the document should be read alongside the EU AI Act itself, as Irish legislation aims to operationalize and enforce obligations set out at EU level.
Significance of the Publication
The publication marks a significant step in Ireland’s preparations for the phased application and enforcement of the AI Act across the European Union.
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