Government publishes new Digital and AI Strategy
Last week, the government published a new National Digital and AI Strategy, Digital Ireland – ‘Connecting our People, Securing our Future’. This builds on Ireland’s well-established reputation as a digital hub, its talent base and innovation ecosystem. Among the strategy’s 90 deliverables includes a new AI and Digital literacy campaign for SMEs. Some of the other deliverables include:
- 100% of key public services digitalised by 2030, and 90% consumed online
- a new AI Advisory Unit for the public service
- implementation of ‘Digital for Care 2030’ and a new ‘AI for Care’ Strategy
- an Observatory for Business AI Readiness (OBAIR), developing intelligence on enterprise use of AI in Ireland
- a new AI Office of Ireland, as the central coordinating authority for the EU AI Act, and a new AI Regulatory Sandbox
- hosting an International AI and Digital Summit as a flagship event during Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the EU
- establishing a new Cyber Security Research Centre of Excellence
- engaging at EU level to influence and advance the EU’s digital simplification agenda, and ensure balanced, coherent and future-proofed digital regulatory frameworks
- a new Roadmap for Technology Skills of the Future to ensure our skills ecosystem remains responsive and future-focused
- a new National Skills Observatory to analyse labour market dynamics and skills development across all skills needs
- a new online one-stop-shop AI Skilling Platform for employers and individuals, and a nationwide Digital and AI skilling campaign
In welcoming the strategy, the Taoiseach said:
"We want all areas of the economy and society to benefit from digital and AI technologies – helping businesses to grow, improving our public services and ensuring everyone has the skills to succeed in a digital and AI-driven economy and society. Ireland will continue to be a strong voice in Europe for a digital economy which supports competitiveness and innovation, while protecting data privacy and fundamental rights.”
Further details of the strategy can be found here.
