Ireland appoints 15 authorities to check on businesses’ AI Act compliance

Ireland has designated some 15 authorities in charge of checking whether businesses follow the EU’s AI Act. In a statement published on Tuesday, the government announced that the country is among the few EU member states that are fully ready to enforce the AI rules by designating several competent authorities. 

The AI Act – EU rules that regulate AI systems according to the risk they pose to society – came into force in 2024, but will apply gradually. 

National governments had until 2 August of this year to notify the European Commission about which market surveillance authorities they appoint to oversee businesses’ compliance with the rules.

This also means that providers of AI systems will face scrutiny as of then.

So far, the Commission hasn't published the list of authorities, but it did make public which of the 27 EU countries have so far established a so-called single point of contact. Those countries are Cyprus, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Slovenia and Spain.

In case of multiple market surveillance authorities, governments must designate a single point of contact to serve as the principal liaison with the public, other EU countries, and EU-level counterparts.

The designated authorities in Ireland include the Central Bank, Coimisiún na Meán, Data Protection Commission, Competition and Consumer Protection Commission and the Health and Safety Authority. 

Ultimately, a National AI Office will be set up to act as the central coordinating authority for the AI Act in Ireland. 

Meanwhile, former Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi on Tuesday added to calls from businesses to delay the AI Act due to unknown risks, and a lack of technical standards. 

Draghi, who spoke at a conference about the Commission’s implementation of his landmark report from 2024, said that “EU rules on AI should be paused while potential “drawbacks” are assessed.”

The Commission opened on the same day a public consultation into its digital simplification package: an effort to bring relief for businesses. The AI Act will be part of that omnibus, which is set to come out in December.