I thank the Deputy. Over the last number of years, my officials, in collaboration with officials in the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, have been working strenuously to deliver a more efficient and streamlined employment permit and visa system. A key element of this is the implementation of a single application procedure for both employment permits and immigration permissions, in line with the single permit directive. It is expected that this will reduce the complexity of the current system, ensuring that the process responds effectively and quickly to meet skills and labour needs into the future. A programme implementation team, co-chaired by my Department and the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, has been established. The initial focus of this group will be on streamlining the existing processes and co-ordinating external communication; scoping the feasibility of technological, legislative and data-sharing solutions; and agreeing and laying the groundwork for subsequent implementation. The expected delivery date for this complex project is 2027. I and my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Brophy, recently met with officials from both Departments and we remain actively engaged with regard to driving momentum to ensure progress is maintained and milestones are achieved with regard to work on the single permit directive. The modernisation and integration of the IT systems in both Departments are integral to delivering this project. I am pleased to report that earlier this year, my Department launched the new employment permits online system. This portal-based system has made the application process easier, more secure and more intuitive, resulting in a more streamlined processing experience for applicants. It sits on a Microsoft Power platform, which is based on similar technologies that the Department of justice will use, and it is expected to move to and support the infrastructure required for a single application process across both Departments.
Sentiment score: 0.46
I thank the Deputy for his feedback. Our Department has taken significant steps in making the employment permit system faster and more efficient. As I said in my earlier contribution, we launched the employment permit online system back in April of this year. We have already seen how it has transformed the application process. It makes it easier and more secure. Over 47,000 successful registrations have been completed and the permit submissions have returned to pre-launch levels. Currently the processing times are around 31 business days for general employment permits and 16 business days for critical skills permits. These timelines continue to improve. It is part of the broader digital transformation project we are undertaking and it allows Ireland to become and remain competitive on a global stage in regard to critical skills and critical skills' employment permits.
Sentiment score: 0.22
We have implemented a huge modernisation of the permit system here in recent times. As I said earlier, it was launched in April of this year and, as part of that, we engaged extensively with business representatives and trusted partners. We went out most recently with a consultation process on the updated occupation list. We have also enhanced our learning and engagement to ensure that when employers are looking to make an application, they have the learning and the engagement, so they can get it right first time. That is really important. As part of that digital transformation, it is critical that we get the single application process in place, that we get the employment permits along with the visa application, and that the immigration process is streamlined under the single permit directive. We are very much working together with officials in exploring ways we can expedite the visa process for critical skills. It is really important. The economy is still going strong and there are labour shortages in certain sectors. We need to address that. The next phase of this is to have the single online process in place by 2027.
Sentiment score: 0.22
As Deputy Geoghegan is aware, the EU Artificial Intelligence Act entered into force in August 2024 and provides a harmonised regulatory framework for AI systems developed or deployed in the EU. It is designed to provide a high level of protection to people's health, safety and fundamental rights, while simultaneously promoting the adoption of human-centric, trustworthy AI. Its provisions will start to apply in a phased manner over the period to August 2027. Earlier this year, the Government agreed to adopt a distributed model of competent authorities, leveraging the State's established sectoral regulatory authorities, to carry out supervisory and enforcement roles for the purposes of the AI Act. The Department is leading across government on the national implementation of the AI Act, and officials are working closely with colleagues in other Departments to devise the optimal configuration of a national competent authority for the Act to ensure comprehensive, robust and effective implementation in Ireland. To date, 13 public bodies have been designated as market surveillance authorities and four as notifying authorities, with some of these public bodies having a dual role. The Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment has also been designated to act as Ireland's single point of contact, as required by the AI Act, to facilitate co-ordination and to provide a number of centralised functions for the distributed model until a new independent entity, the AI office of Ireland, is established on a statutory basis to carry out this role. As Deputy Geoghegan noted, the AI Act stipulates that member states should ensure their competent authorities establish at least one AI regulatory sandbox at national level to be operational by 2 August 2026. The AI Act introduces AI regulatory sandboxes as a key mechanism to foster innovation. They should aim to enhance legal certainty for innovators and the competent authorities' oversight and understanding of the opportunities, emerging risks and impacts of AI use. Additional information not given on the floor of the House. They should facilitate regulatory learning for both authorities and businesses. The participation in the AI regulatory sandbox should focus on issues that raise legal uncertainty for providers and prospective providers to innovate, experiment with AI in the European Union and contribute to evidence-based regulatory learning. The AI office of Ireland will act as the central co-ordinating body for the EU AI Act and provide a focal point for the promotion and adoption of transparent and safe AI in Ireland to ensure that we fully capture the strategic opportunity that AI presents. The office will also be responsible for ensuring the timely establishment of the national AI regulatory sandbox. It is important to note that in addition to preparing practical guidance to support member states setting up national sandboxes, the European Commission is also required to adopt implementing acts for sandboxes, setting out principles regarding participation, co-operation and procedures. Officials are actively involved in EU working groups related to these matters and we await the first drafts of these proposals from the Commission, which are expected in the first quarter of 2026. The Department will continue to engage with the European Commission, other member states, industry, the SME sector and our regulators to look for opportunities to help inform and shape preparations and to identify opportunities to collaborate in establishing an operational AI regulatory sandbox.
Sentiment score: 0.46
I thank Deputy Geoghegan for his interest in the AI Act. There are questions here today and certainly his welcome for the AI office is crucial. The Minister, Deputy Burke, allocated more than €1.4 million for its establishment, with the staffing plan now in place, and to ensure the sandbox is operational by August next year, which is not far away. We are also working with the EU digital innovation hubs and CeADAR to provide technical expertise and support for businesses. We need to continue to ensure the AI office can be functional in this time. For us, the sandbox is not another bureaucratic hurdle; it is certainly a tool that can support SMEs on their innovation journey. They can test AI systems safely, reduce compliance uncertainty and speed up market access. We have a good story to tell in regard to new start-ups in the AI sector. We want to become a leader among many competitive members in the EU to ensure we are at the fore of AI regulation. This initiative is very important on that journey.
Sentiment score: 0.50
I agree with Deputy Geoghegan. It will be an important opportunity when Ireland takes over the Presidency to showcase our SMEs, the work we are doing in the AI sector and the steps we are taking in the Government. The AI office will have statutory independence, reporting annually to the Oireachtas and the AI committee. It will also co-ordinate regulators under a clear governance structure. Ireland has a long track record with regard to regulation and the integrity of the system we implement in many sectors, not only in technology but also in life science and medtech. We are a very attractive place to do business due to our regulations and our principles on integrity, justice and transparency. This is very important from an EU perspective as it gives us a competitive advantage. We want to ensure that participation in the AI Act allows us to have this openness and equal access to treatment among member states.
Sentiment score: 0.45