General Scheme of the Regulation of Artificial Intelligence Bill 2026

This document outlines the heads of the General Scheme of the Regulation of Artificial Intelligence Bill 2026.

The General Scheme of the Regulation of Artificial Intelligence Bill 2026 is necessary for the full implementation in Ireland of the Regulation (EU) 2024/1689, commonly referred to as the EU Artificial Intelligence Act (AI Act).

While the EU Regulation has direct legal effect in EU member states, it is necessary to have national legislation to implement those provisions of the EU Regulation that provide for the supervision and enforcement of those obligations.

The General Scheme gives further effect to the Government Decisions of 4 March 2025 and 22 July 2025, approving that Ireland will adopt a distributed model of competent authorities for the AI Act, leveraging established sectoral regulatory authorities, with a designated central authority to provide coordination and a number of centralised functions.

The General Scheme proposes to establish a new statutory independent body – Oifig Intleachta Shaorga1 na hÉireann, or the AI Office of Ireland, under the remit of the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, to act as the Single Point of Contact and central coordinating authority for the implementation and enforcement of the EU AI Act in the State. It also provides for the empowerment of Competent Authorities, and rules on penalties for infringement of the Act.

The General Scheme should be read in conjunction with the EU Regulation, the AI Act.

An overview of the  EU AI Act can be found at EU AI Act.

[1] The Irish for Artificial Intelligence is 'Intleacht Shaorga'

General Scheme of the Regulation of Artificial Intelligence Bill 2026