The Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke has welcomed the appointment of the former Executive Director of Education, Innovation and Artificial Intelligence at the Medical Council of Ireland as the first Chief Executive Officer of the AI Office of Ireland.
The appointment of Paul Byrne follows the signing into law of the Regulation of Artificial Intelligence Act 2026 by President Connolly last month. The AI Office of Ireland became operational at the beginning of August.
the Minister said the establishment of the AI Office of Ireland was central to the governmnet’s national approach and “demonstrates Ireland’s commitment to delivering a digital Ireland that is confident, connected, and inclusive.”
“I am pleased to welcome Paul Byrne into his role as CEO. He brings extensive national and international experience and will provide strong leadership and strategic direction for the Office as its work begins in supporting the implementation of the EU AI Act and fostering human-centric and trustworthy AI,” the Minister said.
“As we steer the European Union agenda under the Presidency of the Council of the EU, this Act sends a clear signal that Ireland is committed to a harmonised approach to the adoption of responsible and human-centric AI that fosters innovation and protects our European values,” he said.
Mr Byrne is the President of the Council on Licensure, Enforcement and Regulation (CLEAR), the international alliance of professional and occupational regulators. He is also a member of the World Health Organization’s Expert Working Group on Regulatory Considerations of AI for Health.
His previous regulatory experience includes senior leadership roles at CORU, the regulator for health and social care professionals, and a number of regulatory and policy roles at the national Commission for Regulation of Utilities. He holds a Professional Diploma in Artificial Intelligence from University College Dublin and is the author of the CLEAR Principles for Ethical and Effective AI in Professional Regulation.
Mr Byrne said he was honoured to take on the role, noting “as we establish this important independent office, our priority will be to support the effective implementation of the EU AI Act in Ireland. I will work to ensure that innovative AI development can flourish whilst protecting fundamental rights and public confidence in AI.”
“I look forward to working with the public, businesses and regulators to help Ireland harness the benefits of AI in a trusted and responsible way,” he said. “The opportunities presented by AI are significant. The AI Office will play a key role in developing public trust in AI, providing strategic leadership, fostering regulatory cooperation and supporting the responsible adoption of AI across Ireland’s economy and society.”
The establishment of the AI Office is a key part of Ireland’s digital health strategy. To meet obligations under the EU AI Act, the Office will act as the single point of contact for the EU AI Act for the European Commission, national sectoral regulators and the public.
It will be responsible for developing a regulatory framework for the implementation of the EU AI Act and the Regulation of AI Act 2026, and will facilitate centralised access to technical expertise for other competent authorities, as required.
Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Artificial Intelligence and Digital Transformation, Niamh Smyth said “The regulatory and AI experience that Paul brings will be a tremendous asset to the Office as Paul and his team support a coordinated and consistent approach to AI regulation across Ireland’s designated competent authorities.”
She added “Ireland is a key player in the global AI ecosystem, home to many of the world’s leading foundational AI model providers. AI is already changing how we live, work and do business, and it’s crucial that we have the right framework in place to support innovation, build trust and provide effective oversight. With Ireland now holding the Presidency of the Council of the EU, this Act strengthens our position as an EU centre of excellence and digital regulatory hub and demonstrates our commitment to online safety and to fostering and promoting innovation through responsible AI both in Ireland and in Europe.”
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