Enterprise Committee to meet for pre-legislative scrutiny of the Regulation of AI Bill 2026 and the Data Bill 2025 with IBEC

The Joint Committee on Enterprise will meet on Wednesday May 6th for Pre-Legislative Scrutiny of the General Scheme of a Regulation of Artificial Intelligence Bill 2026 and Pre-Legislative Scrutiny of the General Scheme of the Data Bill 2025.

The meeting will take place in Committee Room 2 of Leinster House between 12:30-15:00.
Representatives from IBEC will appear at the Committee.

The General Scheme of the Regulation of Artificial Intelligence Bill 2026 proposes to establish a regulatory framework for the development, deployment and oversight of artificial intelligence systems in Ireland.

The legislation is intended to align Ireland's approach with emerging European Union rules on AI, while setting out governance structures, compliance obligations and safeguards designed to ensure that AI technologies are used in a safe, transparent and accountable manner.

The General Scheme of the Data Bill 2025 proposes to modernise Ireland's legislative framework governing access to and use of data. The Bill aims to support innovation, economic growth and digital transformation by setting out rules for data sharing and reuse, while ensuring appropriate protections for privacy, security and the rights of individuals and organisations handling data.

Speaking ahead of the meeting, Committee Cathaoirleach Deputy James O'Connor said: "We welcome the opportunity to engage with IBEC on the General Schemes of the Artificial Intelligence and Data Bills, which represent a significant step in shaping Ireland's approach to digital regulation.

The proposed AI Bill envisages a central "AI Office of Ireland" coordinating 13 Market Surveillance Authorities. Similarly, the proposed Data Bill empowers the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, the Data Protection Commission, and ComReg with various enforcement roles.
Members are particularly interested in exploring how the proposed regulatory structures can operate in a coherent and streamlined way, avoiding unnecessary complexity for businesses, while also ensuring strong oversight and accountability.

We will also examine how the legislation can strike an appropriate balance between enforcement and proportionality, and how it can support Ireland's long-term economic competitiveness and AI readiness."

Watch the meeting live on https://www.oireachtas.ie or on the Oireachtas smartphone app for Apple and Android.