Frameworks · Ireland

AI governance frameworks and AI regulation in Ireland

Ireland governs AI through the EU AI Act, supervised and enforced under its own Regulation of Artificial Intelligence Act 2026, with the GDPR applying to any AI that processes personal data. Public bodies also follow government guidelines on responsible AI. These are the instruments that apply to Irish organisations, with the international standards most of them build on.

Who regulates AI here

Data Protection Commission (DPC)Supervises the GDPR in Ireland, including AI that processes personal data, and is the lead EU supervisor for many technology companies based in Ireland.
AI Office of Ireland (Oifig IS na hÉireann)Coordinates the authorities that supervise the EU AI Act in Ireland and is the national single point of contact, established under the Regulation of Artificial Intelligence Act 2026.
Central Bank of IrelandSupervises how regulated financial services firms use AI and can impose administrative fines for AI Act breaches by the firms it supervises.
Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC)Enforces consumer protection law and has AI Act sanction powers under the 2026 Act.
Coimisiún na MeánIreland's media and online safety regulator, named among the AI Act market surveillance authorities in the 2026 Act.

Ireland

Ireland applies the EU AI Act through its own implementing law and sector regulators, with guidelines for AI use across the public service.

Public sector policyIreland public service AI guidelinesGuidelines for the Responsible Use of AI in the Public Service (Ireland)Ireland's guidelines for the responsible use of AI in the public service set seven principles and planning tools for public bodies. What they ask of a body.Published May 2025, in use LawIreland AI Act 2026Regulation of Artificial Intelligence Act 2026 (Ireland)Ireland's Regulation of Artificial Intelligence Act 2026 sets up the AI Office of Ireland and how the EU AI Act is supervised and enforced. Who regulates what.In operation since 31 July 2026

All Ireland frameworks

European Union

The EU AI Act sets risk-based obligations for AI placed on the EU market or used in the EU, alongside the GDPR's rules on automated decisions.

LawEU AI ActEU AI Act (Regulation (EU) 2024/1689)The EU AI Act sets risk-based rules for AI used in the EU. What it requires of providers and deployers, and the dates as amended by the 2026 Digital Omnibus.In force, applying in stages to 2028In Aicura from Enterprise LawGDPR Article 22GDPR Article 22 and automated decision-makingGDPR Article 22 limits solely automated decisions with legal or similarly significant effects. Who it applies to, the exceptions, safeguards and AI duties.In force since May 2018, amendment proposed Voluntary frameworkGPAI Code of PracticeGeneral-Purpose AI Code of PracticeThe EU GPAI Code of Practice is how model providers show they meet AI Act duties on transparency, copyright and systemic risk. What it covers and who signs.Published July 2025, in use Voluntary frameworkTrustworthy AI and ALTAIEthics Guidelines for Trustworthy AI and the Assessment List (ALTAI)The EU's Ethics Guidelines for Trustworthy AI set seven requirements, and ALTAI turns them into a self-assessment checklist. What they cover and who uses it.Published 2019 and 2020, voluntary

All European Union frameworks

International

Standards and frameworks that apply across borders. Most organisations use one of these as the backbone of their AI governance, whatever their jurisdiction.

StandardISO/IEC 42001ISO/IEC 42001:2023 AI management systemsISO/IEC 42001 is the certifiable international standard for an AI management system. What it requires, how Annex A works and how to get ready to certify.Published December 2023, current editionIn Aicura from Pro StandardISO/IEC 42005ISO/IEC 42005:2025 AI system impact assessmentISO/IEC 42005 is international guidance on assessing how an AI system affects people and society, when to assess, what to record and how it links to 42001.Published May 2025, current edition Voluntary frameworkNIST AI RMFNIST AI Risk Management Framework (AI RMF 1.0)The NIST AI RMF is a voluntary framework for managing AI risk through four functions, Govern, Map, Measure and Manage. What it asks and who uses it worldwide.Version 1.0 current, revision under wayIn Aicura from Pro Voluntary frameworkNIST Generative AI ProfileNIST AI RMF Generative AI Profile (NIST AI 600-1)NIST AI 600-1 applies the AI Risk Management Framework to generative AI. Its 12 risks, the suggested actions behind them and who uses the profile and why.Final, published July 2024 StandardISO/IEC 23894ISO/IEC 23894:2023 Guidance on AI risk managementISO/IEC 23894 adapts the ISO 31000 risk process to AI. What the guidance covers, its AI risk sources and lifecycle mapping, and how it fits with ISO 42001.Published February 2023, current edition StandardISO/IEC 38507ISO/IEC 38507:2022 Governance implications of the use of AI by organizationsISO/IEC 38507 is guidance for boards on governing an organisation's use of AI. What it asks of directors, how it links to ISO/IEC 38500 and who uses it.Published April 2022, current edition Voluntary frameworkOECD AI PrinciplesOECD Recommendation of the Council on Artificial Intelligence (OECD AI Principles)The OECD AI Principles are the intergovernmental standard for trustworthy AI, adopted 2019 and revised 2024. The five principles and how to apply them.Adopted May 2019, revised May 2024 Voluntary frameworkHUDERIAHUDERIA: Risk and impact assessment of AI systems for human rights, democracy and the rule of lawHUDERIA is the Council of Europe's method for assessing AI risks to human rights, democracy and the rule of law. Its four elements, scoring and who uses it.Methodology and Model adopted, non-binding LawCouncil of Europe AI ConventionCouncil of Europe Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law (CETS No. 225)The Council of Europe AI Convention is the first binding international treaty on AI. Who has signed and ratified, what it asks of parties and when it applies.Open for signature, not yet in force Voluntary frameworkG7 Hiroshima Code of ConductHiroshima Process International Code of Conduct for Organizations Developing Advanced AI SystemsThe G7 Hiroshima Code of Conduct sets 11 voluntary actions for advanced AI developers, with OECD HAIP reporting. What it asks and who reports under HAIP 2.0.Voluntary, reporting framework v2.0 live Voluntary frameworkUNESCO AI Ethics RecommendationUNESCO Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial IntelligenceUNESCO's Recommendation on the Ethics of AI is the global standard its member states adopted in 2021. Its values, principles and Ethical Impact Assessment.Adopted November 2021

All International frameworks

Questions

Does Ireland have an AI law?

Yes. The EU AI Act applies directly in Ireland, and the Regulation of Artificial Intelligence Act 2026, signed on 21 July 2026, sets up how it is supervised and enforced. The Irish Act creates no obligations of its own beyond the EU AI Act.

What is the AI Office of Ireland?

Oifig IS na hÉireann, an independent statutory body established on 31 July 2026. It coordinates the authorities supervising the EU AI Act, is the single point of contact, keeps a national register of prohibited practices and serious incidents, and can run AI regulatory sandboxes.

Does the GDPR still apply to AI in Ireland?

Yes. Any AI system that processes personal data must meet the GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018, supervised by the Data Protection Commission. Article 22 governs decisions based solely on automated processing that significantly affect people.

Start with the AI you run.

Every framework begins with knowing which AI systems and agents you have. The AI register is free to start.