The Government has tasked nine national public authorities with the enforcement of the EU’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) Act.
The bodies will be granted additional powers under the AI Act to facilitate them in carrying out their responsibilities “for protecting fundamental rights in circumstances where use of AI poses a high risk to those rights,” according to a release from the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment.
Those authorities will have the power to access documentation that developers and deployers of AI systems are required to hold under the AI Act, for example.
The designated organisations include: An Coimisiún Toghcháin; Coimisiún na Meán; the Data Protection Commission; the Environmental Protection Agency; the Financial Services & Pensions Ombudsman; the Irish Human Rights & Equality Commission; the Ombudsman; the Ombudsman for Children; and the Ombudsman for the Defence Forces.
This list will be notified to the European Commission, and can be updated at any time to reflect future changes in the national authorities.
The European AI Act came into effect in August of this year, putting in place strict rules governing “high-risk” AI systems and their use.
“AI can provide many benefits for our society and our economy. However, AI also comes with certain risks. The EU AI Act will have a critical role in addressing these risks and in promoting human-centric, trustworthy AI. It will establish a regulatory framework for the development and use of AI systems to provide a high level of protection to people’s health, safety, and fundamental rights,” Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Digital and Company Regulation, Dara Calleary said.
“The government is committed to comprehensive and effective implementation of the AI Act and the publication of this list is an important first step in this regard. The additional powers these authorities will acquire under the AI Act will support them in protecting fundamental rights in circumstances where certain high-risk AI systems are used.”