Implementation of Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 (AI Act)
DATE OF UPDATE: 10 June 2025
APPLICABLE DATES:
The Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment is currently working on both the Statutory Instrument, and on the General Scheme of the Regulation of AI Bill, and it is intended to submit this to Government for approval in Q3 this year. The target is for publication of the Bill in Q1 2026.
CURRENT STATUS
A two-track legislative approach is being taken to the full implementation of the AI Act in Ireland:
- Secondary legislation to formally designate the competent authorities by 2 August 2025. This will give legal effect to the March 2025 Government decision and meet Ireland’s obligations under Articles 70(1) and 70(2) of the AI Act.
- A General Scheme for a Regulation of Artificial Intelligence Bill, which will empower national authorities to enforce the regulation, establish penalties for non-compliance, and create a central authority to coordinate implementation and assume specific regulatory responsibilities.
WHY IS THIS APPLICABLE TO CLIENTS?
The enforcement of the AI Act in Ireland will be of interest to organisations investing in the technology. The Irish government has already approved a recommendation to adopt a distributed model of implementation of the AI Act and has designated an initial list of eight public bodies as competent authorities, responsible for implementing and enforcing the Act within their respective sectors.
High-Risk AI Consultation
DATE OF UPDATE: 6 June 2025
APPLICABLE DATES:
The targeted consultation is open until 18 July 2025.
CURRENT STATUS
The European Commission has launched a public consultation to gather input on implementing the AI Act's rules on high-risk AI systems. The consultation will collect practical examples and clarify issues relating to high-risk AI systems.
WHY IS THIS APPLICABLE TO CLIENTS?
The purpose of the consultation is to collect input from stakeholders on practical examples of AI systems and issues to be clarified in the Commission’s guidelines on the classification of high-risk AI systems and future guidelines on high-risk requirements and obligations, as well as responsibilities along the AI value chain.
AI - Government Strategy
CURRENT STATUS
The Government plans to update its National Digital and AI Strategy during 2025, informed by consultation and engagement with key stakeholders.
The updated cross-government Strategy will continue to align with the EU’s Digital Decade and Digital Compass covering Infrastructure, Enterprise, Skills, and Public Services, with more ambitious national targets in key areas, along with a number of priority deliverables.
WHY IS THIS APPLICABLE TO CLIENTS?
The Strategy will outline plans to develop domestic AI capabilities, including accelerating the adoption of AI to drive public service delivery and reform.
European Data Union Strategy
DATE OF UPDATE: 23 May 2025
APPLICABLE DATES:
The deadline for feedback to the consultation is 18 July 2025.
CURRENT STATUS
The European Commission is seeking views on the use of data in Artificial Intelligence, on simplifying the rules that apply to data and on international data flows to inform the forthcoming Data Union Strategy.
WHY IS THIS APPLICABLE TO CLIENTS?
The Data Union Strategy will help the EU build high-quality, interoperable, and diverse datasets that are necessary for AI developers.
Rules for General Purpose AI
DATE OF UPDATE: 22 April 2025
APPLICABLE DATES:
All interested stakeholders were invited to provide feedback on the consultation by 22 May 2025.
CURRENT STATUS
The European Commission invited stakeholders to provide feedback in a targeted consultation with a view to contributing to the Commission guidelines on general-purpose AI models.
WHY IS THIS APPLICABLE TO CLIENTS?
The guidelines will not be binding but provide clarification on how the Commission will interpret and apply the general-purpose AI rules under the AI Act. Both the guidelines and final Code of Practice are expected to be published ahead of August 2025.
AI Continent Action Plan
DATE OF UPDATE: 9 April 2025
CURRENT STATUS
The Commission launched its AI Continent Action Plan to boost the European Union's AI innovation capabilities.
The actions and policies are based around five key pillars and include plans to launch an AI Act Service Desk, to help businesses comply with the AI Act.
WHY IS THIS APPLICABLE TO CLIENTS?
These developments will be of interest to organisations involved in AI. In particular, the provision of the AI Act Service Desk will be helpful for businesses seeking information and guidance.
AI Liability Rules
DATE OF UPDATE: 7 April 2025
CURRENT STATUS
Several civil society organisations and BEUC have written to Executive Vice President Virkkunen and Commissioner McGrath to share their concerns that the AI liability directive proposal is being withdrawn and to urge them to begin preparatory work on new AI liability rules.
The co-signatories of the letter are ARTICLE19, European Center for Not-for-Profit Law (ECNL), CDT Europe, Enforce and Mozilla.
WHY IS THIS APPLICABLE TO CLIENTS?
The regulation of artificial intelligence and any new rules as to liability will be of interest to a range of stakeholders involved with the technology.
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